Joanne Ruth Stovall

The world lost one of its most colorful souls when Joanne Ruth Stovall slipped peacefully into rest on September 30, 2025, in Asheville, North Carolina. She leaves behind her beloved daughter, Britni Anna McCollum (formerly Holtsinger), her son-in-law Bryan McCollum, her brother Larry Lasater and his wife Olga Lasater, as well as cherished nieces and nephews.

Born in Gainesville, Florida, on January 15, 1956, to Walter Boyd Stovall and Martha Virginia Stovall (formerly Miller), Joanne was the youngest of three children and grew up in the Riverside neighborhood of Jacksonville, Florida. She graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in 1974. She was a child of the ‘70s who stitched her own clothes, strummed her guitar, and radiated a creativity that made life around her a little brighter.

A true renaissance woman, Joanne built a life that balanced logic and artistry in equal measure. With dual degrees in Computer Information Science and Graphic Design from the University of North Florida, she spent decades solving puzzles and building elegant data systems as a SQL Server Database Administrator at SunGard Relius in Jacksonville, Florida. Her analytical brilliance was matched only by her creativity—she brought beauty and order to both code and canvas.

After hours, Joanne traded the glow of a computer screen for paintbrushes, fabric scraps, and creative adventures of every kind. A painter since her younger years, she was endlessly inspired by the natural beauty around her, capturing the soft light of Florida’s beaches, rivers, and marshes in vibrant plein air scenes. Ever the maker, she poured her imagination into building parade floats and stage sets for Britni’s dance academy, transforming ordinary materials into whimsical works of art. Her creativity was boundless - quirky, heartfelt, and uniquely her own.

Joanne poured her entire heart into raising her daughter, Britni. From enrolling Britni in dance class at age two to supporting her creative passions through college, Joanne believed in the magic of the arts and the power of imagination. When Britni was little, Joanne was that mom - the one who helped her daughter show up to school with the most elaborate and artistic science projects. She could turn cardboard and glitter into a masterpiece, and thread and fabric into magic - sewing Britni’s one-of-a-kind prom dresses and every handmade Halloween costume with love and flair. She also volunteered her talents as Set Decorator, Props Designer, and Stage Manager with Players by the Sea Community Theatre, where her artistic touch and problem-solving spirit helped bring countless productions to life.

Joanne’s legacy also lives on through her lifelong commitment to community and giving. From leading theatre booster clubs at Douglas Anderson School of the Arts to organizing charity drives for SunGard Cares, she believed in lifting others up, whether through a helping hand or a shared creative idea.

As The Little Prince reminds us, "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye." Joanne saw the world with her heart, and in doing so, helped everyone around her see its beauty, too.

In 2018, Joanne moved north to Asheville, NC, to be closer to Britni and her beloved son-in-law, Bryan McCollum, whom she adored. Together, they filled her later years with warmth, laughter, and mountain sunsets.

Joanne was married, and divorced, twice (yes, twice!) to Britni’s father, Stanley “Mitch” Holtsinger, Jr. Their shared life was, fittingly, always a comedy, and they remained close friends through the years. She will be joyfully reunited with her mother, father, brother David, and Mitch, along with countless beloved fur babies—Frani the pug, Gravy the cat, and many more—plus the family and friends she holds dearly in spirit.

A celebration of life will be held to honor Joanne’s vibrant spirit (details forthcoming). In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the River Arts District Artists Foundation in her memory: https://www.rada-foundation.org/.

Her life was a masterpiece of love, laughter, and light, and her colors will never fade.