A Life Story

Deanna Gay Shearouse, 79 years old, passed away on May 22, 2026, after a long battle with Alzheimers & a short one with colon cancer. She was born in Atlanta, Georgia, December 14, 1946, to Frances & Travis F. Turner, Sr. Gay graduated from Herschel V. Jenkins High School in 1964, and obtained a Bachelors in Early Childhood Education from Georgia Southern College in 1967. That same year, she married her high school sweetheart, Joe Shearouse, and they made their home in Savannah. She later obtained a Masters Degree from Savannah State. As a lifelong educator, Gay enjoyed teaching & tutoring children, teaching Sunday school at Grace Methodist Church, and teaching sewing as a hobby. The majority of her career was spent teaching at Calvary Day School from 1979 to the mid-1990s. In later years, she taught paraprofessional students at Armstrong-Atlantic State University & Savannah Technical College. Gay is survived by her husband, Joe; two daughters, Lisa Taylor (Shawn) and JoAnna Hayes (Joel); five grandchildren, Alec Taylor, Alyssa Taylor, Jenna Farmer (Alan), Oriol Hayes, and Joseph Hayes; siblings, Travis Turner, Jr. (Phyl), Kysia Kessler (Ronnie), and David Turner (Theresa); and many nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at Grace Methodist Church on Friday, May 29th, 2026 at 11:00a.m. Visitation will be held on Thursday evening, May 28, 2026, from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. at Baker McCullough Funeral Home, Hodgson Memorial Chapel. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Grace Methodist Church or the charity of your choice. Grace Church of Savannah 6412 Waters Ave, Savannah GA 31406.