Antonette Gerster Stone

In Loving Memory of Jeanette Antonette Gerster Stone

Antonette “Nettie” Stone

Jeanette Antonette Gerster Stone, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and dear friend, departed this life peacefully on October 30, 2025, leaving behind a legacy of love, resilience, and grace.

Born on January 12, 1933, in Springfield, Illinois, to Flora Caroline Sawyer Gerster and Dr. Anton Gerster, she had a heart full of compassion and a spirit that touched everyone she met. “Nettie” lived a life marked by kindness, strength, and unwavering devotion to her family, friends and community. Her warmth and wisdom were a guiding light to those who knew her, and her sweet spirit brought joy to countless gatherings.

Fondly called “NiNi” by her grandchildren, she was known for her generosity, her strong faith in her Lord Jesus, and her ability to make everyone feel seen and heard. Whether through her thoughtful words, her nurturing presence, or her countless acts of service, she made the world a better, more hopeful place. Nettie was a great cook, enjoyed tennis, loved Bible Study, and was an avid bridge player.

Nettie is predeceased in death by her sisters, Barbara Ann (“Bobby”) Gerster Maupin and Delores (“Dodie”) Gerster Sowinski of Springfield, Illinois, and loving husband, John Wendell Stone, M.D., with her also originally from Springfield, Illinois, who moved to Lakeland in 1961 where “Jack” was one of the early partners of The Watson Clinic in Lakeland. Antonette graduated from Briarcliff Manor, Westchester County, New York with a degree in Business Administration. She was president of The Junior League of Lakeland, two times president of Chapter W of PEO, and Clerk of the Session for four terms at First Presbyterian Church, Lakeland.  She was Dixieland Elementary School PTA President, a Campfire Girls’ Leader, a Bible Study Fellowship Leader, Little League Baseball Scorekeeper, active in fundraising for the Girls’ and Boys’ Clubs of Lakeland,

She is survived by her three children, Alice Elizabeth Stone DeMoss (Robert), of Atlanta, Georgia; Andrew Turner Stone (Susan) and Christopher Stone (Julie), of Lakeland; a niece, Victoria Sowinski (“VickI”) Karras, of Sherman, Illinois, and a nephew, John Anton (“Jay”) Sowinski, of Springfield, Illinois. She is also survived by six grandchildren, Robert Lee (“Tripp”) DeMoss, III (Kate), of Washington, D.C.; Andrew Christopher DeMoss (Caroline), of Memphis, Tennessee; Chelsea Elizabeth Stone Anderson (Charles), of Tallahassee; Jessica Susan Stone Rhodes (Taylor), of Tallahassee; Jacqueline Hart Stone Fussell (Wesley), of Alturas; and Rebecca Marie Stone, of Lakeland; and six great-grandchildren, Robert Lee (“Beau”) DeMoss, IV, Harriet Henvey (“Hattie”) DeMoss, and Anne Hays DeMoss, of Washington, D.C.; Reagan Kennedy Rhodes and Rhett Stone Rhodes, of Tallahassee: and Hadleigh Stone Fussell, of Alturas.

A celebration of Nettie’s life will be held Friday, November 7, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church, Lakeland, with reception following in the church’s Welcome Center. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be given to the First Presbyterian Church of Lakeland, Good Shepherd Hospice of Lakeland, or the Salvation Army in Lakeland.