John (Jack) Lovett Stevenson was born January 26, 1928 in Huntington West Virginia to Dorothy Lovett Stevenson and Paul Eugene Stevenson. A graduate of Huntington High School, Jack enlisted in the Navy in 1946. He graduated with a BS degree from Davidson College in 1952, and later that year married Phyllis (Phyl) Smith of Huntington, WV. They moved to Richmond, VA where Jack received his Bachelor of Divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary in 1955, and a Master of Theology in 1957. He was called to pastor the Chadbourn Presbyterian Church in Chadbourn, NC and later became the first director of Camp Calvin, Atlanta Presbytery’s camp and conference center from 1960 to 1965. The family moved to Bloomington, IN where he earned a M.A. and a Ph.D. at Indiana University. While there, he was the Protestant Chaplain to the Crane US Naval Ammunition Depot in Crane, IN. In 1968 Jack became a professor at Clemson University in the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, a position he held until 1991 when he achieved Emeritus status. During his years at Clemson, he was selected as the director of Calhoun College, the Honors Program. In addition, he was Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Studies. While living in Clemson, he also served as the installed pastor at Bethel and later at Richland Presbyterian churches. At various times he served as interim pastor at Presbyterian churches in Walhalla, Seneca, Pickens, Liberty, Midway, North Anderson, as well as the Thornwell Home for Children. He was also a moderator at Foothills Presbytery. He was a founding member of the SC chapter of the American Association for Marriage & Family Therapy, and served as a pastoral counselor at Fort Hill Presbyterian Church in Clemson and Easley Presbyterian Church. Additionally, Jack and Phyl were co-directors of Rockbrook Camp for Girls in Brevard, NC from 1968 to 1972.
Jack is survived by his children: John Stevenson and partner Helen Knouf, Susan Stevenson Kaltz and husband Mark, David Stevenson and wife Ceevah and Anne Stevenson Anderson. He was GrandJack to Meredith Kaltz Cleveland and husband Taylor, Emily and Callie Kaltz, & Eliza and Willow Stevenson.
Memorials may be made to Fort Hill Presbyterian Church, Foothills Community Chapel Fund, Pickens County United Christian Ministry, Pickens County Library, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Amnesty International, or the Stevenson Family Endowment for Guitar Studies at Clemson University.
Memorial Service will be held Friday, November 4th at 11am, Fort Hill Presbyterian Church, Clemson SC.