Vanessa Jayne Kimber Stevens

September 20, 1976 - February 3, 2021

Please click here to view the livestream service for Vanessa Jayne Kimber Stevens Obituary Vanessa Jayne Kimber Stevens was born on September 20, 1976 in Evanston, Illinois to Vance and Jacquelyn Kimber. She was christened and baptized at St. Thaddeus Catholic Church and confirmed at St. Thomas the Apostle Church by then Bishop, Wilton Gregory. Vanessa attended and graduated from St. Thomas the Apostle Elementary, St. Ignatius High School, Loyola Marymount University (BSBA), and The University of Georgia (MBA). All during her education, she was active and participated in various clubs. Two of the things that she loved was being a cheerleader in high school and becoming a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority in college. She was also an avid sports fan and loved cheering on her favorite teams, the Georgia Bulldogs and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Her first job after graduation from Loyola was as Coordinator of Financial Services for Occidental College. From there, she spent 10 years working on the West Coast at American Express and Citibank. In 2003 she moved back to Chicago to help with her Grandmother (Juanita) and worked for Wells Fargo. After 1 year of experiencing those cold winters, she moved to Atlanta to live with her dad. She began to work at Merrill Lynch and Ameriprise in Duluth and continued her career at Morgan Stanley which is also in Duluth. It was in Atlanta where Vanessa met the love of her life and future husband, John Stevens on November 12, 2004. They went on their first date December 16, 2004. After a year of trading life stories, they were married on the anniversary of their first date, December 16, 2005. They initially lived in Lawrenceville than moved to Suwanee. Vanessa continued being active in various clubs and organizations. She was a Board Member of the 1818 Club, on the Board of Habitat for Humanity of Gwinnett, a member of Foster Children’s Network, and a member of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. She was also proud of being a member of Partnership Against Domestic Violence. No matter whom Nessa, as we lovingly called her, met or what she was involved in, or where life took her, Vanessa was strong, devoted, loving, and unselfish. Most of all, she was full of compassion and humor. If you had the pleasure of knowing her or of calling her a friend, you were truly blessed in experiencing a person who showed what God wanted us to be when He spoke and preached of LOVE. You also knew that she had a lovely voice and loved to sing and she loved to dance from the time she could walk. On February 3, 2021, God wanted her to be with Him more than with us. Vanessa leaves to remember her life and spirit: her husband John (she affectionately called Tony); her mother, Jacquelyn; her father, Vance; her brother, Miles (Nicole); her aunt, Diane (Allen), her aunt, Marilyn (Findel); her aunt, Deborah; her godmother, Jerry Weaver; her godfather, Larry Sykes; her mother-in-law, Dean Stevens; her nieces – Alexandria, Aniyah, Noelle, Nailah; her nephew, Brandon; her very special friends: Rawanda Goode (Tyrone), TaMikka Sykes, Yolanda Baker, Christine Haley; a host of cousins; and many, many friends and coworkers who have always supported and loved her. A funeral service honoring the life of Vanessa will be held on Saturday, February 13, 2021 at 1:00pm at Tom M. Wages Lawrenceville Chapel with Harold Savage officiating. Interment will follow at Broadlawn Memorial Park. The family will receive friends on Thursday, February 11th from 9am-8pm and Friday, February 12th from 9am-8pm. You can view the service which will be LiveStreamed either by going to the Tom M. Wages Facebook page or by clicking the blue link on the obituary page on our website. Due to the current COVID-19 regulations, our staff is committed to taking care of our guests and families that we serve. We ask that all guests and family members attending services to please bring and wear a mask. Condolences may be sent to or viewed at www.wagesfuneralhome.com. Tom M. Wages Funeral Service LLC, “A Family Company” 120 Scenic Hwy Lawrenceville, GA 770-963-2411 has been entrusted with the arrangements.