- Date Of Birth: May 27, 1954
- Date Of Death: February 8, 2016
- State: Georgia
Donald Wythe Nixon, well known for his exceptional creativity and advocacy for the arts, took the last breath of his 61 years on February 8th, 2016. Don dedicated his life, love for music, and multiple talents to helping people express their faith and sentiments through the arts. Most recently, Don distinguished himself as an innovator, educator and community leader through his work as the Executive Director at the Centre for Performing and Visual Arts of the Coweta County School System in Newnan, Georgia.
Don is survived by his wife Catherine Lowe Nixon of Newnan, Georgia; daughter Jordan Burgess Nixon of Washington, D.C.; mother Helen Jordan Nixon of Abingdon, Virginia; mother-in-law Wanda Burgess Lowe of Abingdon, Virginia; brother James Arch Nixon and wife Bobbie O’Dell Nixon of Abingdon, Virginia; brother-in-law Timothy Burgess Lowe and wife Jane Jewell Lowe of Fort Myers, Florida; brother-in-law Stephen Harrison Lowe and wife Mary Lynne Hughes Lowe of Abingdon, Virginia; and nieces and nephews April, Crystal, Hollie, Jamie, Adam, Andrew, and T.J.
Don graduated from Abingdon High School in 1972. He then earned two associate degrees from Virginia Highlands in Business Administration and Education. He attended Carson Newman University in Jefferson City, Tennessee and graduated in 1978 with a Bachelor of Music degree. Don continued his education at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky where he earned a Master of Church Music degree in 1980. Don was ordained as a Minister at Abingdon Baptist Church in August 1981 where he was a founding member and director of the youth choir Shalom Singers.
Across the years, Don, along with Cathe, his high school sweetheart whom he married August 16, 1980, served numerous congregations – Minister of Music at Melrose Baptist Church in Roanoke, Virginia; Minister of Music at Parkview Baptist Church in Monroe, Louisiana; Minister of the Arts at Northminster Church in Monroe, Louisiana, a congregation that he helped to found; and Minister of the Arts at Willow Meadows Baptist Church in Houston, Texas. After moving to Georgia, Don was an active and dedicated member and Deacon of Central Baptist Church in Newnan.
The imprint of Don Nixon’s talents will be sorely missed. Not only was he a superb conductor of choral music, he was a skilled artist in floral arrangements, an expert in design and decorations, an imaginative program planner, and an influential lecturer and writer in his fields of expertise. Along with a friend, Don published a three volume set of books on worship and the arts.
The public honored Don with several much-deserved awards including recognition from the Boys Club of America in New York City, the Distinguished Floral Designer Award from Town and Country Magazine, the Christopher Award from Strauss Theatre, the Distinguished Honor for Civic and Community Contributions from the Garden Clubs of America, and the National Healthcare Recognition from the Native American Museum in Washington, D.C., along with numerous other civic, community and national recognitions and achievements throughout his life.
Don’s passion for artistic expression and the development of his interests were exceeded only by his love, pride and support for his daughter, Jordan Burgess Nixon. Don bequeathed to Jordan unforgettable memories of an impassioned, generous and supportive father who encouraged his cherished daughter to nurture her talents and to pursue every one of her dreams. Don embodied the nature of unconditional love.
