Stephanie Autrey GWINN

1969 - 2016

GWINN, Stephanie Autrey Stephanie Autrey Gwinn, age 46, died in the early morning of Tuesday, April 26th at Hospice Atlanta. There will be a gather-ing of family, friends, colleagues and students May 12, 2016 from 4:00-8:00 p.m. at the Solarium at Historic Scottish Rite, 321 W. Hill St. Decatur, Ga. 30030. Stephanie was born in Atlanta, Georgia to Mitchell Gwinn and Christina Connell Gwinn on November 1, 1969. She grew up in Decatur, and attended Clairemont Elementary, Renfroe Middle, and Decatur High School. In 1991, Stephanie graduated from Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York with a degree in Art History. She lived in New York City for five years before returning to Atlanta in 1996. Soon after, Stephanie found her calling as an elementary school teacher. She obtained a Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education from Georgia State University, studied to become a Teacher-Librarian and received an Endorsement in English as a Second Language. She was an extraordinary teacher who instilled a sense of wonder in the classroom, opening minds, providing experiences, dancing, singing and helping others. She had a gift for teaching children to read and shared her love of books with her students. She cherished the beauty of nature which became part of her classroom culture as she planted trees, gardens and emphasized the importance of conservation and recycling. She was awarded Teacher of the Year at Parkside Elementary School in 2009. In 2012 Stephanie moved to San Francisco where she taught 4th grade at Rosa Parks Elementary School. In the summer, as a volunteer, Stephanie taught English at the Ecole Publique de St. Briac-sur-Mer, France. An adventuresome spirit, Stephanie loved to travel. She loved her family and friends, her colleagues and students. Pre-deceased by her mother, Christina Connell Gwinn, Stephanie is survived by Clay and Barrie Harper; her father and step mother, Mitchell and Kathy Gwinn; her brothers, Matthew Gwinn and Michael Reagan; her sisters, Laura and Anna Jensen, Ansley and Kaley Gwinn; Susan and Cleland Child, Kevin Connell, and her Grandmother, Jacquelyn Gwinn. She is further survived by her niece, other relatives and many friends. In lieu of cutting and sending flowers, Stephanie wishes people to honor her by helping plant trees, by donating to Trees Atlanta or another environmental charity such as Sierra Club/Atlanta Inspiring Connections Outdoors (formerly known as Inner City Outings), an organization near to her heart.