Stephanie Dreher

1949 - 2026

Stephanie Fulkerson Dreher passed away peacefully at her home in Brandon, Florida, on January 31, 2026, surrounded by her loving family.
She is survived by her daughters, Tricia Dreher (fiancée Dan Roads) and Nicole Dreher Gillespie (husband Richard), and her cherished grandchildren, Ryan Gillespie and Megan Gillespie. She was preceded in death by her parents, Willard and Dorrice (Hine) Fulkerson, her brother, Stephen Fulkerson, and her sister, Lisa Fulkerson.
Stephanie grew up in central Illinois, graduated from Carlinville High School and returned to Jacksonville to attend Illinois College. It was there she met her husband, Bill Dreher, with whom she shared 40 years of marriage. Together, they built a life and raised their family in their beloved home on East Vandalia.
She will be remembered for her fun-loving sense of humor and deep love of dance. When Tricia and Nicole were members of their middle school pom squad, Stephanie proudly served as a sponsor-an experience that brought her great joy. She continued to support her daughters' passion for dance throughout their lives.
Throughout her career, Stephanie held a variety of roles, including speech therapist for individuals with disabilities, middle school media center assistant, nursing home activities director, and furniture sales associate. In every position, she found fulfillment in helping others and brought warmth and compassion to those she served.
After moving to Florida in 1995, Stephanie enjoyed gardening and spending time at Walt Disney World. When recently asked about her favorite vacation, she fondly recalled her trip to San Francisco.
Though she loved her life in Florida, Stephanie always felt grateful to have raised her family in Jacksonville, Illinois. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.