Willia Mae Hixson

Willia Mae (Jane) Hixson, 99, a resident of Cleveland, passed away Friday, March 2, 2007. She was a resident of Bradley Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center for the past seven years. She was of the Baptist faith. She came to Cleveland in 1944 from Chattanooga along with her husband and three children. Over her lifetime, she had been very active in State, Civic and Political activities. She had a daily local news program on WBAC in the 1940?s and was also a feature writer for the Cleveland Daily Banner. She was highly recognized throughout the state of Tennessee, Cleveland and Bradley County and received many awards from each. She was an outdoors woman who was very interested in Tennessee Conservation and was the originator and served as president of the state?s first Women?s Conservation Club. She was a charter member of the Bradley County Sportsman League and served as the first president of the Cleveland Lioness Club. She was the first to serve as a police woman in Cleveland and had also served as the first lady chairman of the Democratic Party in Cleveland. She was the daughter of the late James Thomas and Kizzie (Rice) Wofford of Athens, TN. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Nevan R. Hixson of Cleveland. Survivors include one sister, Verna Ree McClure of Athens; two daughters: Lillian Garrett of Mio, Michigan and Mary E. Sevener of Palm Harbor, Florida; one son, James A. Hixson of Cleveland; five grandchildren: Linda Goad of Ypsilanti, Michigan, Bob Byars of Sevierville, TN, Mary Ann Pruitt of Athens, Patricia Straub of Palm Harbor, Florida and Rhonda Weeks of Cleveland; ten great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; one great-great-great-grandchild. A Celebration of Life Service will be conducted at 7:00 p.m. Monday, March 5, 2007 in the chapel of Ralph Buckner Funeral Home with Pastor Steve Best and Reverend Jim Caywood officiating. Interment will be held on Tuesday, March 6, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. at Sunset Memorial Gardens with a white dove release ceremony concluding the service. The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. Monday at the funeral home prior to the service. We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Hixson family guestbook at www.ralphbuckner.com.