M. Jean PAXTON

1922 - 2016

M. Jean PAXTON -->PAXTON, M. Jean, Madeline Jean Paxton died November 17, 2016 at the age of 94 in Atlanta. She was born September 9, 1922 in East Orange, NJ. Her father died before her fourth birthday and she was raised by her extended family, graduating from East Orange High School and Berkeley School. She was an avid reader and a lifelong scholar. She married William Henry Paxton, III early in World War II traveling the country with his Navy squadron for two years, making lifelong friends with other couples. After the war she supported her husband's receiving his bachelor's degree while beginning a family. The growing family lived in Pompton Plains, NJ; New Fairfield, CT; and Morris Plains, NJ before settling in Chatham, NJ for many years. She worked as Secretary for the Treasurer of Drew University. As empty nesters, the couple moved to Port St. Lucie, FL, where she was Executive Secretary to the President of Armellini Logistics. When her husband's health declined they moved to Decatur to be near her son, wife, grandson and daughter, where she resided her final 20 years. Her family was the focal point of her life. She enjoyed cooking large family meals where attendance was mandatory, sewing, knitting and crocheting, encouraging serious attention to her children's studies, and church-related activities. She was an avid bridge player, crossword puzzle enthusiast and loved to entertain friends with fun and creative themes. She drove well into her 93rd year, continuing to love to go out on the town. She declined mercifully quickly over the past few months from multiple causes. She is survived by children Pamela Paxton of Clarke, NJ; Gregory Paxton, and wife Lynne Werner of Yarmouth, ME; Nina Hynes and husband Robert of Maplewood, NJ; and Lisa Haworth of Atlanta; and her grandchildren Melissa Wyse of Pomfret, CT; Kelly Hynes of Brooklyn, NY; Erin Hynes of Boston; and Burke Paxton of Yarmouth, ME. She was predeceased by her husband of 54 years, a son William Craig Paxton and a grandson, Glenn Wyse. The family requests in lieu of flowers donations be made to the scholarship fund of Douglass Residential College. A memorial service will be held at St. Thomas More Church in Decatur, GA on Saturday January 7th at 11 AM with visitation held there prior from 9:30 11:00 AM.