Myrtice Nixon Mcelveen Ethridge

Myrtice Nixon McElveen Ethridge, of Atlanta, died January 18th at the age of 97. Myrtice was born May 26, 1913, in Manchester, Georgia to Julia Johnson Nixon and Homer Weston Nixon. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Bulon Everett Nixon, and his wife Mary. She was married to Frank Pierce McElveen for 58 years until his death in 1991. She married good friend and neighbor, I.J. Ethridge, on Valentine's Day 1998, and was a loving and caring companion until his death in 2000. Myrtice is survived by her daughters, Corally McElveen of Woodstock, Georgia; LeAnne McElveen Bird and son-in-law Judge Samuel Norton Bird of Little Rock, Arkansas; grandson David Norton Bird and his wife Alexandra Kosevich Bird, and son Isaac Kosevich of Bozeman, Montana; granddaughter Stephanie Bird Yates and her husband Samuel White Yates, and great-grandchildren Julia Bird Yates, Samuel White Yates, and Iris Lillian Yates of Atlanta. Myrtice was a teacher and administrator, serving for 25 years in the Southern Baptist Convention as office manager for the Georgia Baptist Training Union. She left the Southern Baptist Convention to supervise the kindergarten and children's activities for Briarcliff Baptist Church until retirement. Myrtice was an accomplished soprano soloist, entertainer, writer and artist and used these talents to glorify God as Sunday School Superintendent, Training Union Director, choir member, short-story writer and banquet master of ceremonies throughout Georgia. She was recognized as an expert in pre-school development and served on the faculty at Ridgecrest Baptist Assembly for many years, as well as participated in pilot programs, seminars and clinics throughout the state. Her program design for children utilized small scale furniture, interest learning centers, and most importantly, imaginative play areas complete with costumes. Her teaching philosophy was used as a model for kindergartens and primary grades in churches throughout the south. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, January 21st in the chapel of A. S. Turner and Sons, with Dr. William Bigger officiating. Memorials may be made to Briarcliff Baptist Church. The family will receive friends the hour prior to the service at A. S. Turner and Sons.

Funeral Home:
AS Turner & Sons
2773 North Decatur Road
Decatur, GA
30033