October 16, 1922 – December 5, 2024
Anne Nixon Miller of Attapulgus died peacefully in her sleep at her home Thursday, December 5, 2024.
She enjoyed a long and useful life of 102 years. A graveside service at Attapulgus Methodist Cemetery will be held at a later date with the time and date to be announced. Anne is survived by her daughter, Virginia (Ginger) Harshman and son, E. Copeland Blackwell, Jr. The grandchildren are Meghan Farnsworth, Mathew Harshman (Megan), Dr. Kevin Blackwell, Univ. of Bristol, U.K., and Andrew Blackwell of Charlotte and their mother, Sheila. The Harshman’s all live in Seattle, Washington. Her great-grandchildren are Hoyt, Tate, Finn Harshman,and Dorothy Farnsworth. First cousins are Jane Gibson Vagnoni, Lewis Gibson Thorne, Anne Brown Terry ,and Alice Brown Pickett. William (Bud) Youmans is another first cousin of Anne’s who recently died. She was very fond of Bud. Anne’s paternal cousins, Gene Nixon and his sister, Mary Neal Nixon of Quincy, FL, preceded Anne in death, as did her sister, Alice Gibson Nixon, and David L. Nixon. She was very fond of her Nixon relatives. She was also close to Buster’s daughter Deborah (Debbie) Miller Maxwell, Quincy, FL.
Annie Gregory Nixon was born on October 16, 1922, the first child of Stella Elizabeth Gibson and D LaFayette Nixon. The Nixon’s lived in Amsterdam, Georgia where Mr. Nixon managed a produce farm for the American Sumatra Tobacco Company. Annie was full of dreams that extended far beyond her rural roots. When very young, she begged her father to order material to sew clothes on a little Singer machine so she could dress with style. Annie was an industrious and determined child, qualities that would follow her throughout her long life. A perfectionist, she never avoided a task and dived headlong into any challenge that was thrown her way whether it was planning an entire Bible School or painting a rocking chair, making curtains, or putting together a complicated media console. She attended school in Decatur County and graduated from Bainbridge High School, where she caught the eye of handsome W. Buell Miller, Jr., known throughout life as Buster. World War II was soon to enter the scene and change the lives of many Americans, including that of young Annie and Buster.
After high school, Anne attended Georgia State College for Women in Milledgeville, GA. Anne’s favorite aunt, Emily Ray Gibson, was only 10 years her senior and had returned to her home in Donalsonville, GA following an adventurous year in Europe. Anne, as she now preferred to be called, saw an opportunity to move to Atlanta with her aunt and seek the life of a city girl amongst the bustle of wartime economy. She landed a job with Eastern Airlines as a reservationist and gained skills that would enable her to fulfill her dream of world travel later in life. She and Emily Ray had a lively social life in their new home. They played tennis in Piedmont Park, worked in downtown Atlanta, and enjoyed the carefree life of eligible young women.
Anne briefly crossed paths with Buster Miller in Atlanta, but he was called to overseas duty, and she found other suitors. Eventually, she married a handsome wartime pilot and had a beautiful daughter, Virginia Elizabeth (Ginger) Steurer. They lived in Tarrytown, New York, and later Greenville, South Carolina. After her first marriage ended, Anne experienced the challenges of a single mother living in a small town. She worked for the Plexon Company and became executive secretary to the president. Her lifetime of making the most of what she had allowed her to create a wonderful home for herself and Ginger. Anne had a great sense of style and proportion. Walking into her immaculate home, one was greeted with the smell of a delicious dinner and the promise of interesting conversation.
Her many activities included volunteering at the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, where she met her second husband. After her marriage to Elbert Copeland Blackwell in 1956, a son, Copeland, was born joining his sister, Ginger. During these years, Anne concentrated on raising her young son and his sister. A later move to Raleigh, NC brought an opportunity to work as a travel agent. At one time, she was responsible for the travel itinerary of Dean Smith, famed coach of the Chapel Hill Basketball team. During this period, she traveled to many different countries, including Europe, Japan, and India. Her favorite country was Greece, and she admired Germany for its efficiency.
Another move to Charlotte, NC brought her closer to some of her maternal family and favorite aunt in Atlanta, Emily (Ray) Gibson Brown. She was asked to teach at a travel agency school, worked as an agent, and then managed international travel for AAA. Living in Charlotte allowed her to join many happy celebrations with her cousin Anne Terry, Alice, Aunt Georgia, and Uncle Al. Occasionally, her mother would be able to join.
As the years passed, the health issues of her mother demanded that Anne be in Donalsonville more often. Ginger and Copie were grown, and life was less demanding. If either of her parents needed her help, she was there. Anne possessed the nurturing gene that extended to all her family, and she was very committed to those she loved. She frequently visited her mother and, on one occasion, went to a Bainbridge High School reunion attended by the Buster Miller of long ago who was recently widowed. They began a courtship that would later result in a very happy marriage. They built a comfortable home amidst a grove of graceful live oaks and enjoyed many good times together. Anne had come full circle from her birth on a shade tobacco farm to a marriage with a retired shade tobacco farmer. It was a fairytale ending, which she never dreamed would happen.
Although he was the love of her life, Buster’s passing in 1999 did not slow Anne down. She was always up and making coffee before anyone got out of bed. The dishes were put away, and the next meal was planned. Anne had a place for everything and was highly organized so she could turn out a great meal effortlessly. A visit to the home she and Buster built was a relaxed time and included so much fun. Whether it was a trip to Apalachicola, FL with her at the wheel driving a bit too fast or a stop in Climax, GA to buy fresh sausage at Jones Market, everything seemed more exciting because Anne was there. Her quick mind and appetite for life were assets that she carried her into her nineties. Many cherish the memory of relaxing on her long porch watching the sun sink into the fertile land of Decatur County, utterly peaceful.
Anne Nixon Miller was very complex and full of contradictions, critical and yet gracious. She could be difficult but had a soft side. She loved Buster’s Australian Shepherd, Rusty, and lovingly cared for him. She adopted a kitten, Mitzi, and doted on her. She took a stray cat to the Humane Shelter in Bainbridge rather than let it be homeless. She valued her Nixon heritage and accepted guardianship of her cousin, Mary Neal Nixon, who lived in Quincy FL. She proudly displayed her father’s WW I memorabilia on a shelf with pictures of her extended family. In her 90’s she joined a Northwest cruise with her daughter’s entire family. She was so proud of her children and grandchildren’s accomplishments but was not prone to bragging. She was a stickler for correct grammar and had little patience for error, so having a granddaughter and daughter-in-law who were English teachers suited her. She remained sharp and energetic during most of her ninth decade and attributed her longevity to having eaten good basic food all her life. She also maintained a disciplined lifestyle that made allowance for fun.
In her last years, her caregivers were a great blessing. The gift of nurturing had also come full circle. Anne received loving care from so many excellent providers, including Hospice, in her last year. She and her husband Buster were blessed by the love and faithful devotion of Annie Mae Bouie, her late husband Raleigh, and their son Kelvin and his wife, Gail. Annie Mae is a gracious, wonderful person who loved Anne Nixon Miller deeply. The family is grateful for her friendship. Anne Nixon Miller often told me she was lucky, and indeed, she was. She was an amazing example of the Great Generation of America Women and the longest living member of the Gibson/Nixon family.
Online condolences may be sent at www.coxiveyfuneralhome.com. Cox-Ivey Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
