Obituary of Jodie L. Stevens

Jodie L. Stevens passed away peacefully on March 6, 2021. He was born in Franklin, Tennessee on April 24, 1943 to Lonnie and Leta (Law) Stevens. Jodie (affectionately called Joe by his parents) graduated from Franklin High School in 1962. He eagerly joined the United States Air Force and in 1965 he landed in Bossier City, Louisiana at Barksdale Air Force Base. He met the love of his life, Jennifer Johnson, and they were married in 1968. After earning a degree in Business Administration from Louisiana Tech University in March 1976 Jodie left the USAF to pursue a career in the hospitality industry. Through the years Jodie was the General Manager of the Sheraton-Bossier, Hilton Hotel, LeBossier Hotel, Ramada Inn and the Holiday Inn Holidome. He is most known for his successful night clubs including Stars, Country Stars, Vertigo and Jodie’s Comedy Shop. Later he owned and operated Black Oak Mountain Resort outside of Branson, Missouri. He was an active member of the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau for many years and was elected Chairman in 1986. He was an instructor at Georgia Military College in 1985-1986 sharing his experience and knowledge by teaching hospitality courses at the Louisiana Tech campus on Barksdale Air Force Base. Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 52 years Jennifer Johnson Stevens, daughters Melissa Stevens (Keith Zmerzlikar) and Katherine Hart Stevens (Jim Carter), and his beloved granddaughters Presley and Rowan McEntee. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Leta Faye Stevens (White). A private family memorial for Jodie will be held at a later date.