Rita Mixon McCullough

Rita Mixon McCullough loved life! She lived her long, successful life fully with purpose, enthusiasm, and inspiration for 97 ½ years. On Sunday, October 7, 2018, she went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She was born March 20, 1921, in Ocilla, Georgia, to tenant farmer Archie M. Mixon and Sara Ellen Edenfield Mixon. She and her twin sister, Ruby, were the surprise bundles of joy that made the

family complete with eleven children. Rita grew up on the farm in a house she lovingly referred to as the Paulk Place, enjoying the sights and smells of country living including soap making in an iron pot, watching the tobacco, and cotton grow and riding in a covered wagon. She often spoke of her kind and gentle father, and her courageous mother who taught herself to read so well she read all of the

children’s school books!

After Ruby was killed in a tragic car accident on December 24, 1936, Rita graduated from high school and moved to Jacksonville, Florida to live with her sister, Margaret, and brother-in-law, Sherman Mercer.

She got a job at Southern Bell Telephone Company, and after three years married Wallace Pope McCullough on September 29, 1939. They lived briefly at Jacksonville Beach and Fernandina Beach

before locating to Jacksonville, Florida.Life was busy and full for Rita as she and Wallace raised two children, Vivian Faye and Wally Jr., and also assumed leadership roles in the Women’s Missionary Union at Murray Hill Baptist Church. She started a night time Garden Club for working women at the

Riverside Garden Club. In 1959 she started Underhill Personnel Services, which she incorporated into a Medical Personnel Service. She was a women ahead of her time, an entrepreneur, and a true visionary leader. She would never take “no” for an answer! Secretary of State Stallings asked her to go to Tallahassee and write the regulations for the home healthcare industry. Niece Delores Pass Kesler and son Wally worked in Underhill office, and they later continued the legacy. Wally and daughter Mandy still manage the now Underhill Staffing Inc., and Delores bought the company Convalaid from Rita and made history with her worldwide expansion of personnel services. It didn’t stop here. Grandson Jason Kent Smith started iStaff, Inc. in the Atlanta, Georgia area and was awarded as one of top 100 companies to work in the Atlanta area in 2018. Other family members from the Pass Kesler family are continuing the

legacy with their successful businesses. Rita and Wallace moved from Jacksonville to Lake Asbury in Green Cove Springs where they had 72 grape vines and 10 acres of gardens and dirt bike trails for the grandkids. They later moved to Orange Park where they enjoyed retirement. Rita remained a consultant with Underhill Staffing until her death. She lived alone with her loving caregivers from Underhill. These ladies are family to us, and they gave Rita quality of life, dignity, and humor. Preceding Rita in death include her parents, Archie and Sara Ellen Mixon; her loving husband of 61 years, Wallace Pope McCullough; her granddaughter, Julie Christine Smith Lindsey; ten siblings; and numerous other family members. She leaves her family Wally McCullough, Jr., his wife Nancy, grandson Douglas McCullough and wife Jen; granddaughter Mandy Hunter and great grandson Henry Hunter. She also leaves her daughter Vivian Smith and husband Earl; grandson Jason Kent Smith and wife Marni; great grandchildren Dylan Smith, Bennett Smith, Hannah Smith, Tyler Gnagey, and Angelina Lindsey. Visitation will be held on Friday, October 12, 2018 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Hardage-Giddens

Riverside Memorial Park and Funeral Home. The celebration of life will be Saturday, October 13, 2018 at 3:00 p.m. at the funeral home with internment following at Riverside Memorial Park. A reception will

be held at the funeral home after the graveside service.

If you would like to give a donation in lieu of flowers, please send it in the name of Rita McCullough to:

Phoenix Community of Atlanta, 2650 Chattahoochee Drive Suite 400, Duluth, GA 30097, 770-884-1496

The Phoenix Community is a network of churches that focus on the transformation of broken and hurting people through the love of Jesus Christ and reconciled relationship with the Father in the local Atlanta area and abroad.

HARDAGE-GIDDENS RIVERSIDE MEMORIAL PARK AND FUNERAL HOME, 7242 Normandy Boulevard, Jacksonville, Florida 32205, is serving the family.