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Mary Elizabeth Southall Nix
1918 - 2025
BORN
1918
DIED
2025
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Mary Southall Nix Obituary
Elizabeth was born in Covington, Tennessee, on October 3, 1918 to Mary Elizabeth Chapman Southall and Madison Lafayette Southall. After a life lived rich in dedication to her family, work, faith and community, she passed away quietly on August 25, 2025. She was two months shy of her 107th birthday.
Elizabeth was born and raised on the family farm which is still in existence today. She will be buried in the family cemetery alongside her ancestors.
She attended Byars Hall High School, graduating in 1937. For many years, her class enjoyed their reunions which culminated with a Covington Leader group photo many times. Elizabeth began a twenty-five-year employment career at Kimberly Clark Corporation in Memphis, TN. A few years before retirement in the 1970's, she joined the Order of the Eastern Star (OES) fraternal organization and this became a large piece of her life for the next fifty years. She served as the Tennessee Grand Representative at one point. She made so many new friends that became her second family.
Elizabeth was a life-long member of the First Baptist Church of Covington. Her Sunday School members and "Ladies Circle" members were all pillars of the church's foundation and sustainability.
Elizabeth was preceded in death by her parents and brothers: Harry Louis Southall, Robert Major Southall, Fallen Christen Southall and Charles Shelton Southall. Her children's father, James Robert Nix. Also, sons, Franklin Odell Nix and James Richard Nix; grandson, Dennis Thornton; grandson-in-law, Matt Orzech; son-in-law, Jerry Austin; daughter-in-law, Kay Nix.
Elizabeth is survived by daughters Sandra Elizabeth Austin and Beverly Nix Thweatt (Roy); sons Robert Southall Nix (Pam) and Charles Steven Nix. Known to her grandchildren as Momma, Bully, or Grandmother, she leaves Camille Thornton, Whitley Nix (Shelly), Donna Cannon, Pam Carroll, Sammy Nanny, Beth Bell (Chris Weakley), Sean Nix (Heather), Kane Nix, Betsy Nix, Cheryl Nix Bazan (Nick), Alyson Nix Dufilho (Mark) and Charles Wesley Thweatt. She also leaves 23 great grandchildren and 15.5 great-great grandchildren.
Visitation will be held at the First Baptist Church, 2105 TN-59, Covington, TN 38019 on Thursday, August 28th from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm with funeral service to follow at 1:00 pm. Graveside services will be private. Covington Funeral Home has charge of services. Friends may sign an online guestbook at www.covingtonfuneralhome.com
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Elizabeth's memory to:
Seminary Scholarship
c/o First Baptist Church
2105 TN-59
Covington, TN 38019
Or - St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Or - the charity of the donor's choice.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
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