Dixie McCoy

Dixie Nelle McCoy, age 84, passed away on April 24, 2024, with her family by her side. She was born on October 16, 1939, in Trion, Georgia, to Nelle and Everett Nix. She grew up to be a shining example of resilience, strength, and kindness. Dixie graduated from Trion High School in 1957 and received her nursing degree in 1961 from Georgia Baptist School of Nursing in Atlanta, GA. While at Georgia Baptist, she met Charles "Chuck" McCoy and they married on October 28, 1961. They soon built a home in Stone Mountain, GA, where they raised their 3 children and became an integral part of their community, church and schools.

Dixie was a natural caregiver who always put others first, and her kindness and compassion were felt by everyone she met. Dixie spent her 43 year career as a nurse; 30 years were spent at Northside Hospital. She also enjoyed many memorable summers caring for children in the infirmaries of camps across the southeast. After retiring in 2005, Dixie sadly had a heart attack. Her cardiologist gave her a 50% chance of living 5 years. She astonishingly lived 19 years past that heart attack, beating the odds to spend time with family and friends and joyfully meet and adore eight additional grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Dixie's beloved husband of 47 years, Chuck, preceded her in death in 2008, as did her parents Nelle and Everett Nix. She is survived by her son Charles "Skip" McCoy (Leslie), daughter Celia McCoy (Eric Ainsworth), son Mitch McCoy (Tracy) and brother Everett Nix (Kathy). She will also be missed by her adored grandchildren Charlie (Jackie) and Brian, Augustus and Ella, and Andrew and Alaina, as well as her great grandchildren Chase, Maddie, Bella, and Lex.

Dixie was the absolute best mother to her 3 children. She engaged herself with heart and soul in her children's lives and raised them with love and devotion. Dixie enjoyed keeping in touch with friends and family, old and new. For years, she and her family attended a family reunion, on Thanksgiving Day, lovingly called "The Gathering of the Nuts". She always made time for conversations with family members and friends from her elementary school, high school, and nursing school days, as well as many other special friends made throughout her life. She lovingly coordinated high school and nursing school reunions. Her friends have said, "Dixie was the glue that held us together."

Dixie had the gift of positivity. Always the optimist, she was a natural problem- solver and truly knew how to get things done. Dixie's wonderful sense of humor and infectious laugh made her joyful company. Dixie's hobbies included gardening, baking, reading, and jigsaw puzzles. She had so much fun taking clogging lessons with her children and square dancing with Chuck in their square dancing club. She was always finely dressed in her skirt and crinoline and he in his shiny belt buckle and bolo tie. She spent as much time as possible outside, working in her yard and tending to her immense collections of hostas and daylilies. She passed her appreciation of the out-of-doors to her children. Dixie loved to tell stories, in detail, about her childhood growing up in a little mill town, of which she was so very proud, and visiting her grandparents in the country by way of mule-drawn wagon. All who knew her also heard stories about her fun summer camp adventures.

Dixie will be remembered for her kind and compassionate nature, her passion for nursing, her positive outlook on life, and her love of family and friends. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Dixie's life will be honored at a Memorial Service on May 11, 2024 at 11:00 at Mansell House and Gardens in Alpharetta, Georgia. A Celebration of Life will immediately follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in her memory to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital