Funeral services for Marvin Mixon scheduled Wednesday at American Legion Post 30

ALBANY – Veterans in Albany have lost one of their most ardent supporters with the passing of Marvin W. Mixon, 74, who died Sunday at his residence.

Mixon, a former first lieutenant in the U.S. Army, devoted much of his time and energy honoring and supporting veterans and was instrumental in the creation and implementation of both the Field of Flags event and the Field of Crosses memorial in Albany.

“Marvin spent much of his time honoring others, and tomorrow we will have a funeral service to honor him,” American Legion member Nick Nicholson said. “The funeral will be held here at Post 30, and then, at the gravesite we are having a flag folding, “Taps,” a 21-gun salute and a eulogy.”

According to Nicholson, Post 30 is also planning to honor Mixon’s family following the memorial service.

“For a lawyer, he did not have a lot of money,” Nicholson said. “He believed in helping people and did a lot of work pro-bono, especially for veterans. So we are planning something special for the family. We will have a meal for them at the post after the service.”

Funeral services begin at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Post 30, located at 2916 Gillionville Road, with interment to immediately follow at Crown Hill Cemetery. Chaplain Ti Barnhill will officiate.

“We will probably have 20 or more Legionnaires there in our Honor Guard uniforms,” Nicholson said. “He had also planned to do the Field of Crosses for Memorial Day, and we are going to do that in front of the mall. He was instrumental in the Field of Flags, the Field of Crosses and the veterans services that we do for any veteran who wishes to be buried with military honors. All they have to do is ask the funeral director. If they can’t get the military to do it, we will do it. Marvin was instrumental in all of that.”

Born in Cordele, Mixon lived in Albany, where he worked as an attorney, for most of his life.

His military service included time in the U.S. Army, where he functioned as an advisor to the South Vietnamese Army. Mixon also served as commander for three years at American Legion Post 30, as well as district commander and judge advocate, along with various other positions.

Mixon was a member of the 40 & 8 (Honor Society of American Veterans) and the VFW, served as a board member and member of the executive committee for the Red Cross, as well as holding multiple offices with the Southwest Georgia Exchange Club.

Mixon was preceded in death by his wife, Alice Mixon, and is survived by his companion, Carol English, of Albany; a son, Walt Mixon of Columbus; a daughter, Pam Mixon Smith and her husband Jeff, of Woodstock; a daughter, Barbara Mixon Newsome and her husband Doug, of Greer, S.C.; four grandchildren: Parker Smith, Abby Smith, Aaron Newsome and Callie Newsome; a brother, Loren Mixon and his wife Carlen; a brother, Gerald Mixon and his wife Diane, and a sister, Myra Baker and her husband Charles.

For more information, contact Nicholson at (229) 395-3258.