Lisa Gaston

GASTON, Lisa Anne

Lisa Anne Gaston, a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, teacher and friend passed peacefully on April 3, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia, surrounded by her family and a few of her closest friends.

Born on an Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi, and having lived in Atlanta for the past 36 years, Lisa Anne was known for her southern charm but was a true (and emphatic) California girl at heart. She spent her childhood in Piedmont, California, where she graduated class of 1975 from Piedmont High School. The only child of two pioneering physicians—Dr. Harper Gaston, a dedicated cardiologist, who founded the Kaiser Permanente Southeast Medical Group, and Dr. Anne Gaston, one of the very first female, board-certified neonatologists—Lisa Anne was raised with wit, determination and a passion for learning. She pursued her undergraduate studies at Bryn Mawr College, where she majored in political science. Her years at Bryn Mawr were some of her most treasured. She cherished the century-old traditions and made lifelong friends, many of whom she remained in touch with all of her life.

Never one to shy away from a challenge, she then moved to Washington D.C., earning both a Master's Degree in Foreign Service and International Development, as well as a Juris Doctor in International Law and Legal Studies at Georgetown University.

Lisa Anne's professional journey was as diverse as it was impressive. She began her career practicing law in New York, California and Georgia. Once in Atlanta, she transitioned into television, where she became Vice President of Public Affairs at Turner Broadcasting. Her work creating "Interact America" earned her multiple Emmy Awards and paved the way for her eventual move to Georgia Public Broadcasting, where she was recognized as one of the "Women Making a Mark" Honorees by Atlanta Magazine. It was during her broadcasting years that she met her great love and husband of twenty five years, Michael Reff.

In the next chapter of her life, Lisa Anne discovered her truest calling: teaching. Earning yet another Masters Degree in Education from Agnes Scott College, she spent nine cherished years teaching English and Literature at Central Gwinnett High School. With a deep love for books and a passion for writing, she inspired her students to find confidence in their writing and empowered them to discover their own voice. She loved her students, and they loved her back. In her final days, she received an outpouring of love and gratitude from so many of her past students who shared the many ways in which Lisa Anne influenced and changed the course of their lives.

Lisa Anne's life was filled with adventure and travel with her husband, Michael, and her two daughters, Allison and Hayley Harper. She was known for her radiant smile, sharp intellect, and gift for finding joy and beauty in the everyday. She never hesitated to speak her mind, stood strong in her convictions, and moved through life with an unwavering sense of self and a deep belief in angels and the power of prayer. She loved her family, her two grandsons, and her golden retrievers (and not necessarily in that order.)

Lisa Anne was a fighter and despite a near 20-year battle with heart complications, maintained a positivity that was palpable to all she encountered. Her health challenges unfortunately pulled her away from the classroom and kept her adventures closer to home. These limitations never broke her infectious and indomitable spirit and in spite of them, she remained engaged with and even expanded her social community. Lisa Anne had friends far and wide and worked hard to maintain those connections, no matter the distance.

Lisa Anne is survived by her beloved husband, Michael Reff; her two daughters, Allison Stalla (Zeid Stalla) and Hayley Swarbrick (Andrew Swarbrick); her two grandsons, Ben Stalla and Grayson Swarbrick; and so many friends both near and far. Her life was a testament to the power of perseverance, the joy found in every moment, and the importance of loving deeply and boldly. She would be honored to be forever carried in the hearts of those who knew her.

A funeral will be held at Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland, California on April 27, 2025 at 12:30 PM, followed by a Continued Celebration of Life at Signature Production Group SE in Roswell, Georgia on May 1, 2025 at 7 PM.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to Girls, Inc. of Greater Atlanta (www.girlsincatl.org), where Lisa Anne volunteered for many years.