Teddy Joe Oliver

FLAT ROCK — Teddy Joe Oliver, 62, of Flat Rock, passed away Friday, August 23, 2013 in Hendersonville, with his devoted wife, Ann, by his side. He was also joined by his youngest brother, Lonnie, Lonnie's wife, Sandra, as well as several close friends. He was preceded in death by his parents Ruth and Earl, and his sister, Sharon.

Ted was born in 1950 to Ruth and Earl Oliver in the mountains of North Georgia and is a direct descendant of the Oliver family homestead in Cades Cove, Tenn. Industrious and hard- working, Ted found jobs in countless places including copper mines, carpet factories, pharmacies, and florist shops, saving money for his academic pursuits. Ted began his studies at Reinhardt College in 1969, and completed his Bachelors of Science in Art Education from the University of Georgia (UGA) in 1974. He then went on to earn a Masters in Art Education and an Education Specialist Degree from UGA and in 1986, spent a year as a Fulbright Scholar in Finland. With a love for learning and the arts, Ted's career as an art educator spanned the course of almost four decades, covered kindergarten to university level, including on teaching faculty at Kennesaw State University, Brenau University and Truett McConnell College.

He was an International Baccalaureate educator, President of the Georgia Art Education Association, served on the National Art Education Board of Examiners for the U.S. Education Standards, and on the Curriculum Revisions Board for World International Baccalaureate Arts Standards in Wales. Ted also was President of the Union County Historical Society, President of the Towns/Union Credit Union, as well as countless other positions of leadership throughout the state of Georgia and internationally. He was awarded Teacher of the Year Marietta City Schools 1976, Union County Schools 1981, Fannin County Middle School 1991, Campbell High School 1996, and Campbell High School 2000. Ted was named Georgia Art Educator of the Year in 1993, Georgia Secondary Art Educator of the Year in 1989,NAEA Southeast Art Educator of the year,1993 and was a Rotary Scholar in Cortona,Italy,1976. He taught at Campbell High School for twelve years before retiring in 2005. Throughout the course of his teaching career Ted served as an educator, mentor and constant friend to countless students.

Ted and Ann moved to the Hendersonville area in North Carolina in 2005 where they owned and operated Olivers' Southern Folk Art, a gallery dedicated to the celebration and preservation of folk and outsider art throughout the Southeastern United States. Together they were involved in many exhibitions over the past few years including, The CollectorsVision: Art Museum of Myrtle Beach, 2011;Outsider Visions, Boca Raton Museum, 2011;Looking Back, Walking Forward: Evolution of Southern Folk Art, Tryon, 2010; Response and Memory: Morris Museum of Art, Augusta, GA, 2010, Asheville Art Museum 2010; Masters of Southern Folk Art: Henderson Arts Council, Hendersonville, NC, 2009; Visions of Freedom: Alabama Folk Artists, Haywood Arts Council, Waynesville, NC, 2009; A Show of Faith, Religious Folk Art, Hendersonville, NC 2008; Black Folk Art of the American South, Kennesaw University, Kennesaw, GA,1993.

Ted is the beloved husband of Ann Oliver; father of Anna Kelso Schalk; father-in-law of Jeffrey Schalk; grandfather of Harvey Schalk; son-in-law of Ruth Breeding of Miami; and God-Father to Liv Koehler of Bonn, Germany. He is also survived by his brothers and their wives, Lonnie and Sandra, Steve and Becky, and Danny and JoAnn Oliver; his uncle, Gordon McConnell; his aunt, Edith McConnell and two nieces, Sondra Arnold and Betsy Brown.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 20, 2013, at The Episcopal of St. John in the Wilderness with Reverend John A. Morton officiating. A reception will follow in the parish house.

Information on memorial contributions that may be made in lieu of flowers can be found at www.thosshepherd.com.

An online register book is available online for family and friends by visiting www.thosshepherd.com.

Thos Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors and Cremation Memorial Center is in charge of arrangements.