Frank and Solomon Nixon Funeral Home | Tifton, GA

Obituary For Ronald Nixon

Ronald Keith Nixon

LIVE VIDEO BROADCAST | Thursday, April 30, 2020 | 12 NOON on our FACEBOOK

Lie In Repose Frank and Solomon Nixon Funeral Home Wed, April 29, 2020 1PM to 6PM

Celebrations Private Graveside Service

Public Celebration Sunday, Oct 11, 2020 Save The Date

OBITUARY Ronald Keith Nixon was born on October 4, 1956 in Adel, Georgia to the the union of the late Solomon Nixon, Sr. and the late Mattie Louise Deloach Nixon. Beside his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Carolyn Graydon.

Ronald was previously married to the late Jamaine Anderson Nixon. To this union, one son, James Anderson Nixon was born. At an early age Ronald accepted his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and joined Williams Chapel CME Church in Hawkinsville, Georgia. He served as Sunday School Superintendent and as an Usher. After moving to Tifton, he joined Everette Temple CME Church where he served in the following capacity until his illness: Trustee, Lay Organization, Usher and Assistant Church Secretary.

He was educated in the Cook County School System and the Pulaski County School System. Ronald was an all around youth participating in the band, football Team and tennis team in his high school years. He graduated from Hawkinsville High School. He furthered his studies at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and on to Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service where he graduated in 1978. Ronald’s work included

Professional Establishments:

• Employed at Frank and Solomon Nixon Funeral Home: 1975 – Present (45 Years) Employed at Lee Funeral Home: 1977 – 2000 • Apprenticed under Ben Hatcher until it became Lee-Nixon Funeral Home in 1979 • Became Licensed Embalmer and assistant to management • Became a Licensed Funeral Director in 1979 Became a Licensed Embalmer in 1980 • Licensed Embalmer, Stevens Funeral Home: 1982 – 1999 • Licensed Embalmer, Davis Funeral Home: 1990 – 2005 • Licensed Embalmer, Hall Funeral Home: 1980s and 1990s (Part-time) • Licensed Embalmer, MLK Memorial Funeral Directors: 1989 – 1992 • Professional Helper, Cloud and Son Funeral Home: A LOT • Filled in as embalmer for the “Big Six” when they traveled

Member Affiliations:

• Vice-Chair, Fourth District of Georgia Funeral Service Practitioner’s Association (GFSPA), 1989 under Mr. E. O. Thomas until his death and as Chairman, after his death from 1989 – 1990 • Board Member at-large, GFSPA under several presidents: Cloud, Barnes, Levett, Young, Tucker and Hurt • Active member of the National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association (NFD&MA) and regular attendee its convention, House of Representatives meeting (Spring) and Board of Directors (Fall) meeting— he has served as voting delegate and as an alternate delegate

Political:

• Elected to the Tift County Board of Commissioners in 1985 as one of the first two African-Americans in its history; served for 14 years • As a Commissioner, served: as the official check signing commissioner, on the Jail committee for the new law enforcement center, the search committee for the first ever county manager and as the public safety commissioner. • Association of County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) representative on the Georgia Fire Fighters Standards and Training Council • Vice-Chairman of the Public Safety and Courts Committee in 1988 and 1989; Chairman, 1989-1990 • South Georgia Rural Development Commission Board of Directors as a Commissioner and as a minority representative: Present • Board of Directors of Tift County Residential Housing Corporation (non-profit) • Two most prized projects were the establishment of the Tift Lift Transit system and the Tift Community Health Clinic in conjunction with Tift Regional Medical Center

Community:

• American Cancer Society, 1988-1990 • Hospice of Tiftarea, Trainer, African-American Culture, 1989-1991 • PROMISE Men’s Club, Charter Member • Charter Treasurer • Miss Black Tiftarea Committee Member • Chief Bar-B-Que Cook for the Love Affair booth • Rotary Club of Tift County • Graduate of Leadership Tifton • Coastal Plains HeadStart Policy Council • Vice-President, 1985 • President, 1986-1989 • Tifton Soup Kitchen, Volunteer • Deputy Election Poll Manager, 2000-2013

In the past few years before retiring, Ronald received two very important and rewarding awards of his life.

1. Being named GFSPA Mortician of the Year 2. Being honored as Lay Person of the year at his church.

On March 22, 2015, he married his best friend, the love of his life Rosemary Street.

On April 21, 2020, God looked down and saw His beautiful child who had labored and been faithful in His vineyard for many years. While looking down, He said to his child, Well done my good and faithful servant, you have been faithful over few things and now I will make you ruler over many things, enter thou into the joy of the Land. So on that day Ronald said, “I’m ready”. With those words he went home to be with his Savior Jesus Christ.

Ronald leaves to tell the story of his season to a devoted and loving wife, Rosemary Nixon, a son, James Anderson Nixon (Angeanette), a brother, Solomon Nixon, Jr. (Sharon), two sisters, Debra A. Nixon, and Opal A. Nixon, two bonus Sons, Bryan Williams (Margie), and Jarvis White (Teara), two sisters-in-law, Tanja Edwards, and Jean Lott (Roy), one niece Stephanie DeShazer, two nephews, Nicholas Graydon and Solomon Nixon, III.

He also leaves aGodmother, who was like a mother, Lillie Belle Washington, a God sister, Vernetta Demery and a host of cousins, and friends.

Guest Book

Malcolm, Alisa, and Amelia praying for you always.

- na

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Nixon family. Ronald was a great person and friend that will be missed. John Brownlee

- na

A Sympathy Prayer to the Nixon family. We are sorry for your loss. We pray that God will comfort you and give you strength during this sad & difficult time in your lives. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Evang. Margaret L. Brown & family, the Butler, Davis, Johnson, Lentz & Lewis families.

- na

Our heartfelt condolences to the Nixon Family. We are saddened to hear of your loss. May God give you strength, peace & comfort you during this difficult time in your lives. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Bishop Darryl & Elect Lady Renita Redding & the Holy Temple Church family.

- na

I cannot help but smile at the very thoughts of Ronald. We have been great friend for many years. He always approached with a great smile and a huge bear hug And he would pick me up :). Life could not have given me a better friend. Last time I saw him was in Publix. He had a walker so could not pick me up but I did get the bear hug and jumped for tradition. We parted with a little different ending. "You have been one of my best friends for years." My honor and will miss you Your friend Frank Sauls JR

- na

I was sad to hear of Ronald's passing. We met at an odd time in history, when integration happened, probably 1969. We became friends because we were both class clowns. We talked, laughed, spoke in the halls and I was a better person for knowing him. After reading his accomplishments, I'm not at all surprised at how successful he was and how he had worked in his community. We graduated together in Hawkinsville in June of 1974. He was a great HHS Red Devil. Peace my brother.

- na

Thanks for the knowledge and support you shared with our colleagues in GFSPA. We will keep your family in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult times.

- na

Condolences to Ronald's family and many friends--It was my pleasure to have worked closely with Ronald while he was a Tift County Commissioner and I was GDOT District Engineer in Tifton--Ronald was born with a "servant's heart" which he used well during his entire life--I always enjoyed hearing Ronald say" "Buck, I have one more road/street that I want to look at with you, that needs improvements"--A great person--Buck Hartley--Tifton Georgia

- na

My prayers are with you and ur staff during this darkness of time.Kenneth Bennett of Williams Funeral home of Augusta,Ga

- na

We pray for healing, comfort, understanding, as well as peace during this darkness of time. Where now you must look to hills for which cometh your help, you will finds all your answer in the Lord and prayer. We are thinking of you all and we love you. Continue to stand strong and work with the passion and caring. Love Always, Bentley-Carson Memorial Funeral Home Mr. Shamari Brown Bunkley Mr. Clinton Perry

- na

Our staff will continue to keep your family in our prayers. We thank you for allowing us to serve your family.

- Frank and Solomon Nixon Funeral Home