Category: 1979

Alice Egerton Miller died peacefully at Asbury Hospice House in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, on December 10, 2023.

Alice, or Ace, as she was known by most of her friends and family, was born June 28, 1957 in Raleigh, North Carolina, to Dr. Courtney David Egerton and Nancy Upshaw Egerton. She was the youngest of three children. Alice graduated from Salem Academy in Winston-Salem, Davidson College, earned an MBA degree at Indiana University, and did further graduate work at Duke University. Her career was spent primarily in the field of human resources at R. R. Donnelly in Crawfordsville, Ind.

While at Davidson College, she had many friends, including Rick Miller from Thomasville, Georgia. After graduation, she and Rick were part of a group of Davidson classmates who found jobs at Lake Tahoe. Alice stayed there for three years, and Rick was the one who gave her a ride to the airport in 1981 when she flew to Indiana to begin graduate school. Sixteen years passed before they reconnected, when she was attending Duke and Rick was working in Atlanta. They were married in Blowing Rock, N.C. in 1999, and even though their marriage was cut short by Rick’s death in 2006, they enjoyed several wonderful years together that many people never experience in a lifetime. They lived in the suburbs north of Atlanta, and Alice stayed there until 2019 when she moved to Hattiesburg, Miss. to be closer to her sister Barbara. Alice was an active participant in the weekly bible study at Westminster Presbyterian Church, and enjoyed spending time with Barbara and their friends. She loved intellectual conversations and was a rare person who watched a variety of news shows so she could understand many different viewpoints. She was a very generous person whose presence could light up a room. The highlight of her life in Hattiesburg was her “Route 66” themed birthday party this past June, where she was the center of attention among people who loved her.

Alice was preceded in death by her parents and husband. She is survived by her sister Barbara Tillery (Tim) of Laurel, Miss.; brother Stuart Egerton (Karen) of Wilmington, N.C.; nieces Laura Brady (BJ Hampton) of Hong Kong; Carrie Masich (Tom) of Alexandria, Va.; Charlotte Wessell (Neill) of Brooklyn, N.Y.; and two great nieces and one great nephew. She is also survived by Rick’s siblings: Cayla Richardson (Tony) of Sugar Hill, Ga.; Margaret Harvey (Randy); and Russ Miller of Thomasville, Ga., as well as their children and grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on December 20 at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Hattiesburg. A graveside service will take place at 11:00 a.m. on February 3, 2024 at Laurel Hill Cemetery in Thomasville, Ga., where Alice’s ashes will join Rick and his parents for earthly eternity; however, her heavenly reunion with her beloved Rick took place on December 10.

Memorials may be sent to Westminster Presbyterian Church in Hattiesburg, Miss., Cross of Life Lutheran Church in Roswell, Ga., or to the charity of one’s choice.

Nancy Clifton Kinzer crossed the threshold from this life to the next on June 28, 2022, at the age of 64.

Nancy was born to Almonese Brown Clifton and Thomas Woodard Clifton on November 9, 1957, in Dallas, Texas. She was the second of three children, including her sister, Deborah Clifton Van der Lande, and her brother, Forrest Bradford Clifton.

Nancy attended the Lovett School in Atlanta. She graduated from Davidson College in 1979 after spending her junior year in Montpellier, France. At Davidson she befriended Mark Kinzer, her future husband.

After graduation, Nancy moved to Northern California. She lived in Palo Alto, sold copiers, and learned to drive a stick shift on the hills of San Francisco.

In 1982, Nancy moved back to Atlanta just in time for the birth of her first niece and nephew, twins Heather and Bernard Van der Lande. Nancy worked as a computer programmer for Delta Air Lines before moving to the Delta Air Lines Foundation, where she worked in corporate philanthropy. During this period, she and Mark reunited. They married on November 10, 1990. They have two children, Emily Chesher Kinzer (26) and Benjamin Thomas Kinzer (23). Nancy would go on to work on fundraising campaigns for the United Way of Greater Atlanta, 7 Stages Theatre, and others. She was an alumna of the Leadership Atlanta Class of 1995.

Nancy was a long-time member of Decatur Presbyterian Church, where she served as an elder. After many years as a stay-at-home mom, she heeded the call to serve God and enrolled at Columbia Theological Seminary. In 2007, her family decamped to England for the Fall semester so that Nancy could pursue religious studies at Westminster College, Cambridge. She received her Master of Divinity in 2011. During the course of her career, Nancy served at Trinity Presbyterian Church (Decatur, Georgia), Faith Presbyterian Church (Blue Ridge, Georgia), and Northminster Presbyterian Church (Roswell, Georgia). Her beloved congregants will remember Nancy for her generous heart, sound advice, and willingness to address difficult issues head on both in and out of the pulpit.

In her spare time, Nancy loved to read mystery novels, try new recipes, do crossword puzzles, and meet with the book club that she belonged to for more than 20 years. Nancy also had a knack for planning trips, and her family have many fond memories of traveling both in and out of the country with her.

Nancy is predeceased by her father, Tom Clifton; and her stepfather, Ralph Williams. She is survived by her husband and children, as well as her mother, Almonese (Nesie) Clifton Williams; siblings, Deborah Van der Lande and Brad Clifton (Carolyn); step-siblings, Ralph Williams III (Mary), Nancy Jane Morizio (Michael), John Williams (Susan); and her nieces and nephews: Heather Van der Lande Cummings (Andrew), Bernard Van der Lande, Ashley Van der Lande, Billie Clifton, and Thomas Clifton.

In her final chapter, Nancy showed an appreciation for the sacred in the mundane, gratitude for the life she had led, and resolute courage in the face of pain and death. She loved her family fiercely, both the living and those she held close in loving memory. Her husband and children will miss her terribly.

A memorial service will be held on July 9, 2022 at 11:00 AM. at Decatur Presbyterian Church in Decatur, Georgia, with a reception to follow at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Kulea Music Institute, which Nancy supported with her time and talents in the closing months of her life.

Kulea Music Institute
71 Howard St., #5312
Atlanta, GA 30317.
CashApp handle: $KuleaMusicInstitute

Published by Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Jul. 6, 2022.

Franklin Clyde “Chip” Wilson, Jr. grew up in a neighborhood of loving families who raised their children on Hillside Drive in Gainesville. He rode with his pediatrician “Dr. Ben” (Gilbert) and the “Hilltop kids” to Candler Street School and walked home from school in the afternoons. He earned his Eagle Scout Award as a member of Troop 16, First Methodist Church and completed the Philmont High Adventure Trek.

In 1975, Chip graduated from Gainesville High School and remained a loyal “Red Elephant” alumnus. He earned his BA in English from Davidson College in 1979. He was a dedicated fan of the Atlanta Braves, Georgia Tech, Auburn, and Davidson and loved supporting his teams whenever they competed.

Chip was employed by International Management, a consulting firm led by his father, Frank C. Wilson, Sr. and headquartered in Gainesville. International Management provided consulting services and professional seminars to over 120 firms in the carpet, textile, and chemical industries in North America, Europe, and Scandinavia.

Chip grew in his faith at First Presbyterian Church of Gainesville and Chestnut Mountain Presbyterian Church. As an adult, he was a committed member of Rehoboth Baptist Church in Tucker, where he faithfully participated in Sunday School and the Last Saturday Bible Study. One of his great pleasures was going to lunch after the Sunday service with a close group of Rehoboth friends. Chip wanted everyone in his life to know the love of Christ, to understand the promises of God in the Bible, and to make a commitment of faith to live and love as Jesus taught. His gentle spirit and patient endurance of a disability made his life an example of faith to his family and friends.

Chip was born in Clayton, on July 2, 1957 and died peacefully at the age of 64 in Decatur, on February 4, 2022. He is survived by his father, Frank C. Wilson, Sr. of Gainesville, his sister, Lynn Wilson McGee, her husband David McGee (Okatie, SC) and nephews, David “Skip”, Will, Peter, Philip and his niece Helen. Chip was pre-decreased by his mother, Anne Richardson Jones Wilson. He was loved by his cousins Billie Bryan (Charlotte, NC), Peggy, Bill, and Julie Patton (Birmingham, AL), and Steve, Wendy, and Peter Wilson (Huntsville, AL).

The support offered by Planned Lifetime Assistance (PLAN) of Georgia and the staff of Phillips Tower (Presbyterian Homes of Georgia) helped him live independently with confidence.

Friends of Chip joined his family in a time of visitation and a worship service to glorify our Lord and remember Chip’s life of faith at 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, February 8, at Claude A. McKibben and Sons Funeral Home in Hogansville. Interment was at Myrtle Hill Cemetery in Hogansville.

In lieu of flowers, gifts may be given to the “Chip Wilson Fund” at Rehoboth Baptist Church, Tucker, GA.

David Christopher Vaughan, 64, died on Monday, December 6, 2021. David was born in Fort Myers on July 5, 1957. He graduated from Davidson College in Davidson, North Carolina, and earned a master’s degree in real estate at the University of Florida in Gainesville. With his partner, Ted Dickey, he founded and operated Diversified Appraisal, a commercial real estate appraisal firm.

David was devoted to his wife, Cheryl, his children, Bobby, Kimberly and Shane, and grandchildren, Riley and Nathaniel. He was also a treasured friend and role model to his siblings, nieces and nephews, and in‐laws.

Beloved by his family, friends and fellow tennis and pickleball players, David had an enormous—and infectious—love for the everyday joys of life. Whether he was barbecuing on his deck, cheering on his cherished Gators, boasting about his mangoes and avocados (“The absolute best in the world,” he’d say, as he said about so many things he loved and enjoyed), reading a Nero Wolfe mystery, exclaiming at a new bird at the feeder, or simply biking through Fort Myers’ beautiful streets, he embraced and appreciated every experience.

For two years after being diagnosed with a fast‐growing, fatal cancer, he managed to live a full and happy life, often saying that those years had been some of his best. “I’m not going to die today,” he would remind himself and those who loved him, as he chose to approach each new day with hope and a positive spirit.

Fair and judicious, David was open‐minded and accepted different viewpoints. He had an uncanny ability to understand the emotions and intentions of other people and to see to the heart of issues and situations. He was also known for his quick wit and humor, and as every family member, tennis partner and even new acquaintances can testify, no one could escape his good‐natured teasing.

He loved sports and was as passionate about Fort Myers High School teams as his favorite college and professional teams. He was a gifted athlete himself, winner of many local and state tennis tournaments. David enjoyed coaching Little League when his children were young and relished playing—and winning—in tennis and pickleball tournaments with them when they were older. The ultimate strategic thinker, he thrived on games like Fantasy Football and Sudoku, celebrating and crowing at every win.

David is survived by his wife, Cheryl; children, Bobby Vaughan (Samantha), Shane Vaughan, Kimberly Grabowski; and grandchildren Riley Milgrim and Nathaniel Grabowski. His family would like to thank Dr. Lowell Hart and physician assistant Mary Beth Molloy at Florida Cancer Specialists and Dr. Jonathan Von Koenig of Lee Health for the devoted care he received. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.

Joseph William O’Connor, age 64, died suddenly from an aortic dissection on May 16, 2021 in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Joe was born on March 31, 1957, in Tampa, Florida, to his parents, John Anthony O’Connor and Bessie Mae (Holmes) O’Connor. When he was seven years old, his family moved to Fort Myers, Florida. Growing up as the youngest of six children can be tough, and Joe’s personality was shaped by his family and natural talents. He was quite independent and quiet, and as a young boy taught himself to type and operate a Telex machine at Plantation Foods, his parent’s employer. His ability to focus intensely for hours and days was obvious early on.

Joe loved reading, learning new skills, and diving into outdoor activities. He excelled in water skiing, soccer, football, running (multiple marathons, triathlons), and spelunking. He biked across Ireland and Wales and immersed himself in swimming the Tampa Bay waters.

Joe, along with his brothers, was an active Boy Scout, camping, earning merit badges, and learning to appreciate southwest Florida nature. He was also an altar boy, rising early to help conduct Catholic mass and then attend Catholic grade and high school.

Joe attended Bishop Verot High School in Fort Myers, Florida, where he was co-captain of the football team. In his senior year, a football teammate told him about Davidson College in Davidson, North Carolina, and he applied and received a football scholarship. He loved his liberal arts education at Davidson and enjoyed many wonderful friendships there. Although his degree was in Economics, he spent numerous hours working in Davidson’s computer lab (those were the early days of computers), which sparked his lifelong affinity for technology.

After college, Joe lived in St. Joseph, Missouri, for four years, working with his oldest brother, John. He then moved to St. Louis to complete his MBA in Finance and Accounting at Washington University in 1986.During his final year there, he met a fellow bicyclist, a native St. Louisan named Maureen, on a sweltering Labor Day weekend two-day organized bike ride. After both Joe and Maureen were too shy to exchange contact information, they unexpectedly met again three months later and started their lifelong adventures together. They married in 1988, and their “just married” vehicle was a tandem bicycle.

Joe’s employment and Maureen’s education took them from Missouri to Indiana and then Maryland, and they ultimately settled in St. Petersburg, Florida in 1995. Their long-awaited dream came true when their daughter Meara was born in 2000.Joe and Meara shared a very special connection in their father/daughter relationship. Joe always made it a priority to provide her with the utmost empathy, love and guidance.

Joe’s career included many roles in technology consulting, project management, business operations, and most recently, cybersecurity compliance consulting. He was most satisfied when he could analyze and improve systems, whether he was a paid consultant or a tireless volunteer.

Joe was a person of service, and those he loved were the fortunate recipients of this thoughtfulness and generosity. He listened completely and took action with a full heart. Those who loved him knew they could ask him for any assistance, and it would be provided without question or hesitation. Joe has been described as having a phenomenally incisive-retentive mind, in addition to being quick with smile, a laugh, a compliment, and a kind and appreciative word.He was earnest and attentive, often the voice of calm and reason in charged situations.

Joe was passionate about the democratic process and was often involved in local elections. He was an avid supporter of Meara’s schools and activities—SunFlower School, Club Sport Kids soccer, Lady Green Devils Lacrosse team, St. Petersburg High School’s Green Devil Band, and the SPHS International Baccalaureate Boosters. He coached, he cheered, he served on advisory boards, and he ran concession stands. In addition to volunteering for Meara’s activities, he supported other organizations, including St. Pete Maker Space and the Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood Association. Where there was a need, there was Joe.

Joe doted on his cats, and his recent focus was helping his beloved old kitty Duke to eat more. He used one of his favorite tools, a spreadsheet, to help him track Duke’s likes and dislikes.

Anyone who knew Joe knew that he was dedicated to the renewal of Maureen’s and his Mediterranean-style St. Pete house built in 1920.He attended to every task with great attention to detail and quality, finding the home’s history and inner workings a source of constant fascination. Maureen and Meara are eager to finish the renovation in his memory and hope he looks over them with smiles of satisfaction and approval.

Joe is survived by his wife, Maureen Corbett, his daughter, Meara O’Connor, and his siblings, Patricia Reynolds (Marshall), Michael O’Connor (Sharon), and Charles O’Connor (Cindy Bear).He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Bessie Mae O’Connor, and his brothers, John Patrick O’Connor (Mary), and James Walter O’Connor (Frances).He had numerous beloved nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and in-laws whom he enjoyed very much. He also had enduring friendships with his former schoolmates, colleagues, and neighbors.

A memorial gathering will be planned, with details posted at this site at a later date. For more information, you are welcome to contact his wife, Maureen Corbett, at 727-692-6194.

In lieu of flowers, the extended family has set up a GoFundMe to offset Meara’s college expenses (https://gofundme.com/f/meara-oconnor-college-fund), or donations can be made to the St. Pete High Green Devil Band (https://www.greendevilband.com/donate.html) or SunFlower School (by sending a check payable to SunFlower School, 5313 27th Avenue S, Gulfport, FL 33707 or donating via Zelle, sf@sunflowerprivateschool.com).

From the bottom of their hearts, Maureen and Meara wish to thank everyone who has expressed so much love and support since his passing. We will love him forever.