Sunny Stevens

1947 - 2022

Sunny Stevens obituary, 1947-2022, Marietta, GA

Sunny Stevens

1947 - 2022

BORN

1947

DIED

2022

Sunny Stevens Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers on Oct. 6, 2022.

Ruth Corinne “Sunny” Stevens, 75, of Ball Ground, GA, died peacefully Sunday, October 2, 2022, after a courageous battle with breast cancer.


 


She was preceded in death by her parents Ruth Fecker Stevens and Frederic Earl Stevens Jr., brother Walter Fecker Stevens and sister Ann Stevens Pilkington.


 


She is survived by her devoted brother Fred Stevens of Decatur, GA, nephews and nieces Chuck (Sharon) Stevens of Fairhope, AL, George (Dana) Pilkington of Apex, NC, Shelley Stevens of Athens, OH, Marie (Mike) Hommel of San Marcos, CA, David (Lisa) Stevens of Montgomery, AL, and Emily Drabik-Stevens of Augusta, GA, as well as many great-nephews and -nieces. She will be dearly missed by many close friends who were family to her. She also leaves behind “the kids,” Nemo and Sierra, her beloved Jack Russell terriers.


 


Sunny was born in Atlanta to Ruth and Fred Stevens. She developed a lifelong love of horses when older sister, Ann, discovered the sport. Sunny began to ride when she was eight and earned her A rating from the Atlanta Pony Club in 1964. With Ann, she founded Stevehaven Stables in the late 1960s. Although Ann would leave the business, Sunny would go on to train hundreds of riders and instructors for more than 50 years at Stevehaven with its signature navy and baby blue colors. She dedicated her life to the equestrian sport and its development in the Atlanta area.


 


Sunny was a founding member of the Georgia Hunter Jumper Association (GHJA) in 1973. She served continuously on the GHJA board of directors and served as its President for two terms. Through her work there, she was devoted to protecting the wellbeing of the horse and the safety of the rider. She received the GHJA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020.


 


In 2019 Sunny was recognized by the United States Hunter Jumper Association (USHJA) with the Jane Marshall Dillon Award which recognizes equestrians who devote their lives to teaching and mentoring riders in the hunter/jumper discipline. Another of her many awards was the Old Salem Farm Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016.


 


Not only was Sunny nationally and locally recognized as an exceptional horsewoman and trainer, but she was also well-regarded for her integrity, passion, humility, and generosity of spirit. Her legacy lives on in the lives of her students who she mentored and inspired.


 


Quite simply, she was a Legend.


 


We know what she would say to us now, “Hon, you’ve got to keep up your pace no matter what happens.” Sunny, we promise to keep leg on until we see you again.


 


A Celebration of Life will be held Monday, November 7, 2022, at the covered arena at the Wills Park Equestrian Center in Alpharetta, GA, at 2:00 p.m. 


 


In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Wills Park Equestrian Foundation in honor of Sunny Stevens, www.willsparkfoundation.com.

Sign Sunny Stevens's Guest Book

Not sure what to say?

February 9, 2024

Rich Giles posted to the memorial.

September 30, 2023

Fred Stevens posted to the memorial.

November 12, 2022

George Gaston posted to the memorial.

Rich Giles

February 9, 2024

I just learned that you are not with us anymore. I found out because I was remembering the discipline and focus that you taught the riders over the many years, so I looked you up.
You were such a one-of-a-kind. An amazing teacher and person. I was always thankful that we chose you to train our daughter Sonia. It was a great experience.

Fred Stevens

September 30, 2023

George Gaston

November 12, 2022

Sunny was truly a remarkable lady. Her understanding of what was right & true gave guidance to so many young people throughout the years, which will live on for many generations to come.

Ginger Harper

November 7, 2022

Today I went to one of the most precious memorial services I have ever attended. Sunny was truly a treasure in the equine industry. The legacy Sunny leaves behind is one of humility, fairness, honesty and integrity. We should only hope to attain the same.

Carroll Family

November 7, 2022

Carroll Family

November 7, 2022

Carroll Family

November 7, 2022

Carroll Family

November 7, 2022

Thanks for a lifetime of memories!

Krissy Carroll

November 7, 2022

Krissy Carroll

November 7, 2022

Krissy Carroll

November 7, 2022

Thank you Sunny for a lifetime of teaching young girls how to be strong and to not be afraid to have high hopes and lofty goals and to be willing to put in the hard work to get there! You will be missed greatly.

Fred Stevens

November 3, 2022

Hey Sis, if I at 14 had the experience and the semblance of wisdom that seems to accompany me now, I would have noticed you were bound to take the road less traveled in your life. I'm speaking of the road of humility, honesty, integrity, and compassion.
When you left, something of you in me went with you. I will always miss that part of you in me. I promise my lamentations over your departure will only be to honor you.

Jeanne Shaw

October 15, 2022

Sunny, it seems like I’ve known you forever. I was a child when I first knew you, and nearing being a senior citizen near the end. You’ve always given me a shiver with respect, and calmed when you turned around and spoke to me like we’d always been friends. You’ve taught me more than you’ve ever known, even though I never rode with you. You were open, caring, and almost helped me understand. God bless you.

Wild Angel and Jessica Laube

Janice Laube

October 15, 2022

Jessica’s love of the horse and sport NEVER would have culminated without Sunny. Sunny is in this pic watching in the background at Conyers. Jessica went on to win the class. We are devastated that the world has had to say goodbye to one of the most remarkable human beings I have ever met. I will always remember things she said both to me and to my daughter. Priceless. ❤

Vicki Hays

October 14, 2022

There will never be another Sunny. She was a trainer that was greatly admired by the entire Atlanta horse community. She made a huge impact on so many young people . Many have said she’s a legend. I truly think so too and she will be missed very much. She really loved the horse shows and told me once that she wanted to be at a horse show every weekend . I think she lived her dream and lived it beautifully.

Kathleen Hartigan Albinger

October 14, 2022

Sunny will be missed by our family, she was truly an amazing person and coach.

Ashley Scott Armstrong

October 10, 2022

Ashley Scott Armstrong

October 10, 2022

Ashley Scott Armstrong

October 10, 2022

I started riding with Sunny when I was about 14. Sunny impacted me, and so many others, from the very first time you got to meet her. It took about a year for her to realize that she wasn’t going to be able to get rid of me. In fact whenever anyone would ask her about me, she would point to her hair and say ”all this grey is from her”. Her humor was just one of the reasons we all loved her!

Sunny told me in my very first lesson with her, that I would without a doubt become a more talented rider with her as my trainer. But her first priority was ensuring that she shaped me into a better person. And she did just that. I learnt so much about myself as an individual, not just an equestrian. She taught me to be humble, to be appreciative and grateful of every little thing.

So as we mourn the loss of someone we all loved and cherished, I hope we all can continue to be the people Sunny raised us to be and make her proud every day.

Greg Halliday

October 9, 2022

The world is a little less bright!

Robin Felton

October 8, 2022

Thank you Sunny for all the lives you’ve touched.

Mendi Short

October 7, 2022

Godspeed Sunny! See you on the other side! Look for me, I’ll be sitting on my perch waiting for those words of wisdom!

Christy Berman

October 7, 2022

Sunny, you will be truly loved and missed forever. I am so grateful she saw me fit to have Chuck for his remaining years, at my farm in Canton. We have since moved to Tennessee where her beautiful gift of a barn sign will be displayed on the Retired Horse Barn. Bless this Barn.

Lee Cone

October 7, 2022

Sunny, you have been a legend at the horse shows forever, and you will be missed by every one. You gave us strength at the ring and showed us strength in life through the end. Thank you for touching so many

John Abbott

October 7, 2022

A truly great and dedicated horsewoman who has had a tremendous impact on the horse community in Atlanta and beyond. With great respect I wish you Godspeed. You are missed by many.

Ann thal

October 6, 2022

A wonderful horsewoman, gifted teacher and kind and special person. She will be missed

Cynthia Brann

October 6, 2022

Rest In Peace Thank you for all of your support of the Atlanta Horse Community.

Nancy McBrayer

October 6, 2022

Sunny will be sorely missed by all whose lives she touched. She is a legend.

George Pilkington

October 6, 2022

Dearest Sunny, You will be missed I miss you as I miss Ann, each of you were lights in my life that I look forward to reestablishing in the everlasting life of the future. Rest In Peace.
George

Patricia A JacksonJackson

October 6, 2022

The GHJA and Hunter/jumper world has lost a legend. Sunny you will be missed by so many. You will remain in our hearts forever. Rest In Peace dear friend. We’ll see each other again.

Pat and Jim Murray

October 6, 2022

Thank you for the gift of passion and discipline for the sport especially to our granddaughter Julia Grace. Rest In Peace.

Linda Stallings

October 6, 2022

Dear Sunny, everyone is going to miss you. You touched everyone you met.

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Sign Sunny Stevens's Guest Book

Not sure what to say?

February 9, 2024

Rich Giles posted to the memorial.

September 30, 2023

Fred Stevens posted to the memorial.

November 12, 2022

George Gaston posted to the memorial.