Thursday
June 19th, 2025
12:48AM
Floistine Mildred Nix Duncan, lovingly called “Flossie” by her family and friends, lived 98 years before passing away on Friday, June 6, 2025 following a brief illness in Gainesville, Georgia.
The family will receive visitors on Wednesday, June 11th from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm at Memorial Park Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Thursday, June 12th at the same funeral home officiated by her long-time, beloved pastor Rev. Lamar Purcell.
Flossie was the youngest child born on a snowy day to the late Sarah “Annie” Porter Nix and Arthur Ernest Nix on March 3, 1927 at their home in Forsyth County, Georgia. She spent her formative years working and playing on their self-sustaining family farm alongside her parents and two older siblings, Jason and Grace. Flossie looked back on her childhood with warmth and fondness. She remembered her family only having to purchase sugar because they were able to produce everything else they consumed. She often recalled making paper dolls from Sears Roebuck catalogs as well. In her home, Flossie learned how to sew beautiful quilts alongside her mother and sister and how to sew her own clothes. She has left behind many of these heirloom quilts for her family to keep and cherish.
Flossie became a Christian at the age of 13 and she was baptized a week later in a lake in a pasture. Her faith was precious to her and she remained devoted to her Lord for the remaining 85 years of her life. As a young woman, she agreed to marry William Lester Duncan but only once he returned from serving in World War II. On March 2, 1947 they became husband and wife and they remained faithful to one another for the next 68 years until Lester preceded Flossie in death on September 22, 2015. Flossie and Lester lived by example what it means to honor your wedding vows by loving one another in plenty and in want and in sickness and in health.
Together, Flossie and Lester raised five children who brought great joy and comfort to them throughout their lives. They joined Bethany Baptist Church in Gainesville in 1963 and continued to worship there alongside many beloved brothers and sisters in Christ for the rest of their lives. In different seasons of her life, Flossie sang in the church choir, taught Sunday School with the juniors, helped with Vacation Bible Schools, and served as a Ladies Circle Officer—among many other acts of service. Flossie deeply loved her Lord and His Church.
As a family, Flossie and Lester taught their children to love music. They formed a trio and traveled to different churches to sing Gospel music including on the church radio broadcast. Flossie even sang duets in her 90s at Bethany Baptist. In addition to filling her home with music, Flossie made sure her home was full of love and warmth and good food. When her family gathered around her, she would tell them stories of her time growing up on the Nix farm or make them laugh with anecdotes about her children or grandchildren. She loved each family member tenderly and often told her children’s spouses that in her eyes, they were just like her own children to her.
She found particular joy hearing about her great grandchildren and enjoying their visits to her home. “When they are little, they are on your toes,” she would say, “when they are grown they are on your heart.” Now, we will carry her memory in our hearts. She was gentle and humble. She was kind and genuine. She laughed readily and often and her soft, southern lilt was as melodic as it was sweet. Her family will miss her dearly.
Flossie is survived by her three daughters and sons-in-law, Millie and Jimmy Steedley of Jonesboro Ga., Beverly and Larry McFerren of Gainesville, Ga., Tricia and Robert Pollard of Appling, Ga., her two sons and daughters-in-law, Jewell and Tonya Duncan of Evans, Ga, Steve and Debbie Duncan of Gainesville, Ga.; 10 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
The family would like to particularly thank Pat Wilson for being a dear friend to Flossie and helping our family for the last 11 years. We would also like to thank Louise Glenn and Mary Gibbs for their friendship and care as well.
While we grieve our loss of Flossie Duncan, we will always celebrate the life she lived. We find great comfort in knowing that right now she is face to face with the Lord Jesus. In heaven, she is reunited with her beloved parents, brother and sister. We know she found great joy in seeing Lester again and her great grandson Bowen Grizzle as well. We have full assurance that in Christ, we too will one day join Flossie and other believers who have passed from this life into God’s eternal kingdom. We find comfort in that assurance.
Memorial flowers may be sent to the Memorial Park Funeral Home at 2030 Memorial Park Drive, Gainesville, Ga. 30504 and memorial contributions may be sent to Bethany Baptist Church at 900 Cardinal Drive, Gainesville, Ga. 30501.
