Elizabeth Stovall Anderson

Elizabeth Stovall Anderson passed away on February 16, 2026, just two days before her 80th birthday. She was surrounded by the loving presence of her family and caregivers at Delhi Post Acute nursing home in Cincinnati, Ohio, overlooking the Ohio River. In just the two short weeks she spent there, she built genuine friendships that blessed us all in those final days.

Her grandchildren called her Nini and her children called her Mama. We all called her the queen. At her core, she was a musician and gifted pianist. At age eight, she began playing piano for the church where her daddy served as preacher and went on to serve as organist for various places of worship throughout her adulthood. For her, there was never any question about her calling. She completed her Masters of Arts in Piano at Western Kentucky University and became a music and piano teacher. She adored igniting in children a passion for music. She taught hundreds of children piano over her lifetime and especially reveled in teaching each of her grandchildren. In the last months, she was continuously moved by her former students' outreach of love and appreciation for the impact she made on their lives.

Her creativity extended beyond music into needlepoint, drawing, cooking, and what she called "doodling". One of her mantras was to "Express Yourself!". She believed strongly that we were designed to create and share this creativity with others. Her gorgeous hands-always with painted fingernails-were always busy creating and making beauty. She also loved putting these hands in the earth, enjoying the wonder of nature and working in the yard. As a young girl, she watched her mother tend her beloved roses for hours and attributed her love of plants and flowers to her mama.

In her last days at home, she got so much joy from feeding the birds and squirrels and her resident possum, Jimmy. She took great care in caring for "the critters." These critters included most of all her children and grandchildren. Her children were her pride and joy. She was their biggest fan and loudest cheerleader. She was at the birth of each of her grandbabies and oozed with glee over every single thing they did. Her delight in her "products" was ridiculous and abundant. We all felt it and will continue to experience her unconditional love for us for the rest of our lives. What a gift she was and is to us.

Mama/Nini was sassy, willful, and witty. She knew what she liked and went for it, unapologetically. She was not one to complain but faced reality and then "got on with it." She fought like a warrior through decades of physical health challenges that would have brought the strongest of us to our knees. She simply would not quit. When doctors weren't getting it right here in Cincinnati, she called up Mayo Clinic, made herself an appointment and flew out there with her kids in the middle of a blizzard to have her second open heart surgery. She was a woman who did not mess around.

The love of her life was Ralph "Andy" Anderson. Being loved by him changed her forever and although he passed away two decades ago, their love remained "evergreen." It brings joy knowing that they are now reunited.

Liz has also been joined with others who preceded her in death including her parents, Dr. Charles and Alyne Stovall. Although she grew up as an only child, she was blessed to discover her biological siblings later in life. Those who are with her now include Sue Milder; Faye Holder; James Parks (Margie); and Thomas Parks.

She is lovingly remembered by her two children, Amy Elizabeth Hunter, Thomas Hunter Johnson, and her three grandchildren Katherine, Thomas, and Meg Howton. She is also survived by Wayne Parks, Claude Parks, Wallace Parks (Charlotte), Kathy Lindley (Sydney and Izzy), Robyn Milder and Scott Milder (Leslie, Thomas, Grace, and Mandy). Her dear friends who are family include Carmen Dearing, Nancy Ragland, and Diana Tilley.

Gifts in remembrance of her can be made in the form of feeding the critters (don't forget the possums!), planting daffodils in the yard, expressing yourself creatively, and playing soulful music (especially Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue). Mostly, enjoy this wild and precious life that Liz so savored. She is cheering us on!