John L. Nix

Mr. John L. Nix age 91 of Cleveland, passed away Wednesday, February 08, 2012 at his residence following an extended illness.

Mr. Nix was born on July 27, 1920 in Gainesville to the late John Luther and Tannie Westmoreland Nix. He was also preceded in death by sisters, Lois Buffington, Louise Satterfield and Opal Roberts; brothers, Ray Nix and Glen Nix. Mr. Nix started Nix Hardware and Furniture in 1945 and was a founding Director of The Peoples Bank in Cleveland in 1946 where he served as Director, President and Chairman of the Board over the years since the Bank's organization. He started Nix Ford in 1954.

Mr. Nix was a member of Cleveland First Baptist Church where he has served as a Deacon and Chairman of the Board of Deacons. He served as a member of the Georgia Baptist Executive Committee and on the Board of Trustees of Truett-McConnell College for over 20 years and also served as Chairman. He and his wife, Sarah worked with the College to plan and establish the John L. and Sarah Nix student center building. They also worked with North Georgia College to establish the John L. Nix Mountain Cultural Center and Fine Arts Series.

Mr. Nix served as a member of the Cleveland School Board of Trustees, and after city and county school consolidation served on the White County Board of Education where he also served as Chairman. He served for over 21 years on the City Council of Cleveland. Mr. Nix was a U.S. Army Veteran of World War 11, 38th Infantry Division. He was active in charitable fund raising for the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, Red Cross, Salvation Army and the March of Dimes.

Survivors include his wife: Sarah Nix, Cleveland; daughter: Latrelle Edwards, Cleveland; sons and daughters in law, Ken and Cathy Nix, Gainesville, Edward and Betty Nix, Greenville, SC; sister, Gertrude Reed, Cleveland; grandchildren, Chris Edwards, Cleveland, Fran & Brent Garrett, Clermont, Callie & David Feild, Greenville, SC, Jake & Ramsey Nix, Athens, Dorothy & Brandon Davis, Brentwood, TN, Cass Nix, Greenville, SC, Kristy & Thomas Young, Greenville, SC, Katie & Jonathan Hinshelwood, Birmingham, AL; great grandchildren: Peyton Edwards, Christian Edwards, Brycen Garrett, Hudson Garrett, Max Feild, Rhodes Feild, Taylor Davis and Ty Young.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday, February 11, 2012 at Cleveland First Baptist Church with Dr. T. Mike Davis, the Rev. Doug Merck and the Rev. Dennis Turner officiating. Interment will follow in Gateway Memory Park with Military Honors by the White County Honor Guard.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 PM Friday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 250, Cleveland, GA 30528.

Online condolences may be made to the family at barrettfh.com

Barrett Funeral Home of Cleveland.