Jenny Ruth Nixon Sheffield, age 92, died on Sunday, January 5, 2020 at The Stewart House in Carrollton where she had returned in her last years to be closer to family and places of her childhood.  Jenny loved and embraced this life!  Family and friends heard endless stories of her growing up in rural Carroll County, and Thomasville, GA, of her Carrollton high school and University of Georgia college years, and of her special pride in family.  She cherished the 1955 yearbook dedication from her first job as physical education teacher at Tift College in Forsyth, Georgia, in which she was remembered by students as “a friend to all, whose personality enriched lives and whose life reflected sportsmanship in its highest sense.”  “The Cheerleaders” from her Carrollton High School years remained close friends, and travelled together into later life.  In her professional career, after teaching physical education in several schools, Jenny earned an advanced degree and remained a Guidance Counselor at Douglas County High School where she retired in 1987.

In addition to her parents, Oscar and Bessie Copeland Nixon, Jenny was preceded in death by her husband Hobert Houston Sheffield in 1995, and her son, Hobert Houston “Bart” Sheffield Jr. in 2014.  She is survived by a grandson, Hobert Houston “Houston” Sheffield III, of Atlanta; daughter-in-law Regina “Gina” Kennerly Sheffield of Tampa, FL; grandchildren Heather Helton Dubey (Jesse) and Nicholas Helton, and great-grandchildren Brooke and Braxton Dubey, all of Tampa.  Surviving also are her three brothers Dr. Harold Nixon (Jo), Spartanburg, SC; Joe Nixon (Mica), Clinton, SC;  and Howard Nixon (Sue), Carrollton, GA; nieces and nephews Sally Nixon Carroll (Pat), Amy Nixon Oakes (Corry), Bill Nixon (Courtney), Tracie Nixon Scarborough (Ray), Bryant Nixon (Stacy), of SC;  Amanda Nixon McLendon (Jason), and Abbie Nixon Griffin (Matt), of GA; as well as nineteen Nixon great nieces and nephews, and other extended Nixon and Copeland family members.

The family is grateful beyond words to our brother and sister-in-law Howard and Sue Nixon for their constant and loving care of Jenny in her last years, to her many sitters and caregivers, and to the staff of Stewart House and to Sacred Journey Hospice who provided her both home and compassionate care.

Funeral services be held at Martin & Hightower Funeral Home Chapel, 1312 South Park Street, Carrollton, GA on Wednesday, January 8, at 11:00 am with The Rev. Andrew Dickinson, First Presbyterian Church, Douglasville, officiating.  Interment will follow at Mozley Memorial Gardens, 3180 S Sweetwater Road, Lithia Springs, Douglas County, Georgia at 1:30 pm. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 10:00 am until the hour of service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church Douglasville, 9190 Campbellton St., Douglasville, GA 30134, or to the charity of choice.