Trixie (Jeannette) Hall Mercer was born in Dublin, Georgia January 25, 1928, the
daughter of Marcus and Lola Shepard Hall.
Trixie had a wonderful, independent spirit. At an early age, a lady down the
street spent time with her at the piano and by age 12 she was playing for church.
That same year, she was asked to play for a wedding in Macon. On the day of
the event, her mother became unexpectedly ill and her daddy, a grocer, had to
keep the store, so she got a bus ticket to “the big city” and played the wedding by
herself.
She was the little sister of Evelyn Hall Nichols by 2 years and at age 15, became
the big sister of Lynne Hall Rowe.
She was a 1944 graduate of Dublin High School and a member of the marching
band. She graduated from Georgia State College for Women in Milledgeville,
Georgia and began teaching Science and Home Economics. One of her former
students reminisced about her “humor and the way she made Science interesting
to 14 year olds.” Another told of her ability to “control a classroom with the raise
of one eyebrow”.
A talented seamstress, she made most of the clothing she and her daughter
wore, from dresses to winter coats and even a band uniform. During her
children’s younger years, she taught Children’s Choir. A divorced mother of two,
she could pinch a penny, do yard work, make household repairs, etc. Her
children thought there wasn’t anything she couldn’t do.
She was a member of First Baptist Church and the Winsome Sunday School
Class, the Daughters of the American Revolution, and several Bridge groups.
After spending 36 years in the classroom and getting her children off the payroll,
she had fun traveling, often with her friends at church. Never having time for
such things before retirement, she also took up Bridge. She adored spending
time with her 3 grandsons, especially watching them play baseball. She was a
regular at Ladies Bible Study and took joy in playing piano for both “early church”
and Sunday School.
While in her twenties, her father died unexpectedly. She selflessly cared for her
disabled mother and little sister. Having a servant’s heart, she also dutifully cared
for her aged aunts and uncles throughout the following years. Always mindful of
physical fitness, she regularly walked and swam laps at the Fitness Center into
her late 80s. At the age of 88, she climbed Whiteside Mountain in North Carolina
with her family.
Her health declined significantly in the last 3 years. It’s been said that the
challenges of old age can turn one’s heart to eternity, helping the Christian long
for what’s next. In recent months she began to hum songs, the one most often
being “I’d Rather Have Jesus”. Two weeks ago, she said she was getting excited
to see Jesus. On Thursday morning, July 20, the Lord graciously set her free
from her worn out body and now, because of His amazing grace, she has Jesus
in all of His glorious fullness.
She is survived by her children Connie Mercer Carey (John), Mark Mercer
(Diane), her grandsons Tyler (Jessica), Alex (Melissa), Matt, her sister Lynne Hall
Rowe, and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
A celebration of life service will be held in Dublin at First Baptist Church
Wednesday, July 26 at 11:00 AM. There will be a visitation prior to the service
beginning at 10:00 AM.
2 Corinthians 4:16 tells us, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly
we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” Trixie is
fully renewed. “In an instant, the sad has become untrue.”
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