Stacy Allen Elliott's Obituary
Stacy Allen Elliott, age 46, entered her heavenly home on February 10, 2026, at Germantown Methodist Hospital with her husband John by her side, after a courageous six-year battle with metastatic breast cancer. Above all, Stacy was a fierce lover and follower of Jesus; a devoted wife to John; and a loving mother to her twins, Walter and Darby. She was a cherished big sister to Bryn, Kelse, and Leigh, a dedicated counselor to students, and a woman with a deep heart of service for others. Wherever she went, she freely shared her love for Jesus and drew people closer to Him.
Stacy was born in Dallas, Texas, on August 5, 1979, to William (Bill) Payne Allen Jr. and Phyllis McCarty Allen. As the oldest of four sisters, she and her siblings were the “Little Women” of the house, joyfully sharing their childhood in University Park during the 80s and 90s. They were lifelong cheerleaders for one another, treasuring memories of birthday parties, family beach vacations, holiday celebrations, school experiences, first loves, and the births of their children. Growing up on Hanover Street and attending Hyer Elementary, Highland Park Middle, and Highland Park High School forged lifelong friendships that Stacy cherished deeply.
Her summers were spent at Kanakuk Kamp, a Christian camp in Branson, Missouri, where her love and dedication to Jesus took root. She attended the same session at Kanakuk Kamps K1 and K2 for 10 years, then returned for several more as a counselor. During one high school year at K2, she was elected Kickapoo Princess. As a leader and role model, she encouraged the younger Kickapoo campers at K1 and directed their group stage play, among many other activities. She adored those years on Lake Taneycomo and Table Rock Lake—building lifelong friends and joining the entire camp in powerful praise and worship.
In 1995, Stacy moved with her family to Germantown, Tennessee, and enrolled at Briarcrest Christian School. She thrived in choir, Madrigal singers, and theater—most memorably as Glinda the Good Witch—while competing on the pom squad in Orlando. A member of the National Honor Society, she graduated with honors in 1998.
Drawn to Baylor University’s Music Department for vocal performance, Stacy loved her Chi Omega sisters and participated eagerly in the annual Sing Song competition. Inspired to serve, she joined the Baylor Student Leadership Team, supporting students and alumni. She organized the Day of Service, mobilizing Baylor students for community cleanup and beautification in Waco, and helped merge several student service groups into one unified organization. She was also a founding member of The Guerrilla Comedy Troupe. Amid her classical music studies, she delivered her vocal recital on March 16, 2002, accompanied by her favorite pianist, performing selections from Mozart, Donaudy, Poulenc, and Quilter (“Weep You No More” and “My Life’s Delight”), along with “Someone Is Sending Me Flowers” from Shoestring Revue by Baker. Later, she shared her gifts and love for Jesus on the Praise and Worship team at Fellowship Memphis Church.
Having discovered her passion for serving fellow students at Baylor, Stacy pursued a Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration at Boston College, living in Brookline and Newton and enjoying trips to Fenway Park. She graduated with honors and began her career as Resident Hall Director at Swann Residence Hall at Carson-Newman University in Jefferson, Tennessee. There she guided a dormitory of young women through life’s challenges, walking alongside them and leading some to Jesus. She helped plan Swann Hall’s 100th anniversary celebration and a homecoming for past residents. Homesickness for her family eventually drew her back to West Tennessee.
At Rhodes College, she served as an admissions representative, traveling weekly across assigned U.S. regions to visit high schools and work the college fair circuit. Rarely home, she built fast friendships with fellow reps from other colleges, even forming a playful “fraternity/sorority” they called ADM. Those friends continued gathering as recently as last year. She also met her future husband, a rep from Davidson College—John Charles Elliott Jr.—who lived in Charlotte. The long distance prompted her to take a step of faith: she moved to Nashville and became a college advisor at Christ Presbyterian Academy, guiding upperclassmen through ACT/SAT prep, college visits, high school course planning, and applications. Having read applications at Rhodes, she understood what colleges sought and realized this work—helping students and parents find the right fit—was her true calling. Another step of faith soon followed: she moved to Charlotte.
There, Stacy joined Queens College as an admissions representative. John, working for his family’s business, Davidson Chocolate Co., was preparing to open and run a new location. At Christmas 2010, they became engaged, and on June 11, 2011, they married at Germantown Presbyterian Church. Stacy stepped away from the college side to focus on college counseling at Davidson Day School. In 2013, John was accepted into a Master’s program in Supply Chain Management at North Carolina State University, so Stacy took a similar counseling role at Trinity School of Durham and Chapel Hill. In 2014, joy overflowed when they learned Stacy was expecting. They set about preparing their condo for not one baby, but two, stocking up on duplicates of everything the twins would need. Walter and Darby arrived on October 21, 2014, and Stacy was overjoyed to embrace motherhood. When FedEx called John in 2016, the family relocated to Germantown. A few years later, Stacy returned to college counseling at Memphis University School, once again helping young men and their families find the perfect college fit. Her CaringBridge page overflows with tributes from those she guided—testaments to the many lives she touched and the work that filled her with pride.
Stacy cherished attending Fellowship Memphis Church with her family and being part of a faithful small group that supported them for years. Her Bible study group remained steadfast, and more recently, a circle of women from Wellspring Church rallied around her. The prayers, meals, childcare, and countless thoughtful acts from these groups—and from many other dear friends— enabled Stacy and her family to savor their time together during this difficult season. She fought the good fight, forming deep bonds with fellow cancer warriors in Seattle (where she sought treatment for a year) and in Memphis. Those chemo-lunch buddies are now reunited, and Stacy is laughing with them once more.
Stacy loved deeply, led bravely in her faith, and faced one of life’s hardest battles with daily gratitude to God for the strength He provided. Even in her final months—and on her last day— she rose each morning, with a warm heart, to welcome friends and visitors who stopped by. With a warrior’s heart and unwavering hope, she knew her ultimate peace awaited in the presence of Jesus.
Stacy was preceded in death by her grandparents, Loraine (Valenta) and Arthur John McCarty III, Grace (Akin) and William Payne Allen Sr., and her mother-in-law, Suzanne (Sue) Elliott.
She is survived by her husband, John Charles Elliott Jr.; son, Walter Allen Elliott; daughter, Darby Grace Elliott; parents, Phyllis (McCarty) and William Payne Allen Jr.; sisters Bryn and Derek Valenciano, Kelse and Tom Oakin, and Leigh and Robert Wallace; nephew Elli Oakin; nieces Brooks Wallace and Orla Oakin; father-in-law John Charles Elliott Sr. and his wife Laurie Stanton Elliott; sister-in-law Laura (Elliott) and husband Kevin Berdine; aunt Joan (Allen) and uncle Henry Hill; aunt Charlotte (McCarty) and uncle Jim Foster; and cousins Allison (Hill) and Dr. Michael Mitschke, Jeremy, Jackson, Gracie, and Janie Mitschke, Allen Hill, Lindsey and John Foster, Hayden and Addy Foster, Parker Foster, and James and Darby Foster and Millie Foster.
A Memorial Service will be held at St. George’s Church on Monday, March 2, 2026, at 12 noon, at 2425 S. Germantown Rd., with Pastor Brian Crenshaw of Wellspring Church officiating. A reception will follow at Ridgeway Country Club, with a Celebration of Life at 9800 Poplar Avenue, Collierville, TN.
In lieu of flowers, Stacy requested donations to St. Jude Children’s Hospital. A fund in Stacy’s name has been established at Memphis Botanic Garden to receive contributions for a tree or dedicated bed of seasonal flowers planted in her memory.
Stacy’s perspective on life and her approaching death can be heard on the Kanakuk Podcast episode of December 23, 2025, titled “O, Death, Where Is Your Sting?” with host Joe White, available at https://Kanakuk.com
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