Steven Van Wallace

,61 Steven Van Wallace, 61, passed away peacefully at home on March 4, 2025, after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

Steven was born on June 15, 1963, in Dalton, GA, the son of Sherman Henry Wallace and Edwina Grogan Wallace. He was a 1981 graduate of Dalton High School and 1985 graduate of the University of Georgia with a degree in Business Administration.

He started his career in Atlanta, GA with Upton's Department Stores as shipping and receiving manager but returned to his true passion - yearbooks.

In 1990, Steven founded The Yearbook Connection as a sales representative in North Central Florida, where he called on his own experiences as a high school and college year booker and helped advisers and staffs from scores of schools capture the memories of the year for their school communities. For 23 years, he provided information and inspiration, support and fun to his Herff Jones customers, hosting workshops and educational events and turning customer advisers into life-long friends. In 2005, Steven was inducted into the Herff Jones Hall of Fame.

Because of his successful sales career, the "Yearbook Guy" became a Herff Jones sales manager in 2013, motivating, teaching and supporting yearbook reps in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. In 2017, his circle of yearbook friends grew even more when he returned to the energy of the classroom as a sales rep for Walsworth Yearbooks, a position he held until his retirement in 2024. In addition to his many sales awards, Steven was honored with the Florida Scholastic Press Association's Gold Medallion for exemplary service to student journalism in 2024.

Steven was the epitome of living life to the fullest. He would have a party to celebrate whatever milestone or night of the week he felt deserved a toast. He was the ultimate entertainer and loved bringing people together. He was always looking for good. He found joy in nearly every interaction and when he couldn't find it, he manufactured it - often with a glass of chardonnay in hand.

He also loved his cats; travel and new adventures; art, theater and music; as well as playing games and making memories with family and an enormous circle of friends worldwide. His distinctive laugh, familiar phrases and sense of holiday style set him apart.

Steven was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his husband Charlie Gentry, sister Connie Murphy (Mike), brothers Andrew Wallace (Charmagne) and Gary Wallace (Robert Michel), as well as nephew Patrick Murphy, niece Kelly Fitzpatrick (William), great nephew Colin Murphy and great nieces Emily and Lauren Fitzpatrick.

The family would like to thank Community Hospice & Palliative Care - nurses Kym, Mary Elizabeth, Danielle and Ashly; social worker Vicki and Chaplain Joseph - for their loving care during Steven's transition.

A private family service will take place at a future date. Please visit Steven's memorial page at www.williamsthomasfuneralhome.com

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

WILLIAMS-THOMAS WESTAREA

352-376-7556