Ronnie Shaw Mixon Jr.

Ronnie Shaw Mixon, Jr was born in Rome, Georgia, February 23,1970 and died January 24, 2022 in Rome after a short but fierce battle with esophageal cancer diagnosed in October, 2021. Ron knew that cancer does not have the last word, but that the promise of eternity in paradise does. He was preceded in death by his parents Ronnie Shaw Mixon, Sr and Randa Farid Mixon and an infant daughter, Marin Mixon. He is survived by his three children – Morgan, Shaw, and Mallory Mixon; his sister, Mrs. Rema Mixon Parachini, niece Elizabeth, nephew Pierce, brother in law Neil, the mother of his children, Rene Spizziri, and several first cousins.

Ron attended the Darlington School of Rome for the full term of 12 years, graduating in 1988. While there Ron was active in multiple varsity sports including football, soccer, swimming, wrestling, and cross country for which he earned the Mrs. Jesse Atkins Award (Cross Country Spirit Award). He was active in FCA, White Christmas and St. Peter’s Church as youth group member and acolyte. Ron further affirmed his commitment to Darlington in having had the “distinct honor” of chaperoning the 1996 senior cruise affording him the opportunity of a second senior trip of his own. The class of 1988 remained a powerful force throughout his life. He was a leader in organizing class reunions, most recently his 30-year reunion. Anyone whom Ron befriended after Darlington eventually would meet one or several members of the familial like Class of 1988. Ron spent his summers at Camp Laney where he went on to become Counselor in Training and Counselor. Darlington School, St. Peter’s Church, Camp Laney, and his family became the foundation that formed his character and values.

After Darlington, Ron attended Auburn University. At Auburn, Ron pursued a degree in Aviation Management, in line with his aviation goal of becoming a pilot following in the path of his grandfather, who had been a general in the Royal Egyptian Air Force. His changing eyesight led to a revaluation. Later, Ron transferred to Presbyterian College and pledged to the Kappa Alpha Order, graduating with a degree in Business in 1993. At Presbyterian College Ron embraced a wide range of collegiate activities and leadership roles.

Ron began his career in financial services in Atlanta, first as Securities Trader /Account Executive at Sterne Agee and Leach Financial, then as Assistant NASDAQ trader with Trident Securities, and third as an Investment Specialist with Charles Schwab. SAL Financial Services then hired Ron as Vice-President and Director of Operations at the home office in Birmingham, Alabama. Venturing on his own, Ron worked as President and Financial Planner at Peachtree Capital Securities, Inc., in Marietta, Georgia. Thereafter, Ron’s financial services work focused on employee benefits, and this was the core of his Primary Solutions Group and the business he was building in collaboration with Carter Clark, a Darlington classmate. Ron had an entrepreneurial instinct and studied a number of potential business ventures over the years.

Ron’s most daring entrepreneurial endeavor was acquiring and building a beer brewing brand. Co-founding Grand Continental Incorporated with David Brandenburg in 2003, Ron became Chief Executive Officer of the company, doing business as Woodstock Brands. Ron and David oversaw the creation of seven distinct beer recipes, designed product packaging, and secured trademarks for the brand. Once licensing was completed, Woodstock Brands launched in the Atlanta market and eventually gained distribution throughout Georgia. They secured distribution for Woodstock in the Tampa Bay area, having reached an agreement with the Miller Brewing distributor. The hops shortage of 2007 and capital requirements forced the company out of the market in 2008. Ron’s vision for a craft brewery embedded inside a tasting room/restaurant, as the vibrant center of activity within a local community, was many years ahead of its time.

Anyone familiar with Ron Mixon knew his heart for people. He often stopped driving to check on stranded motorists, offering aid, food, money, or conversation to complete strangers, Ron’s smile was the winner every time: perfect pearly whites, accenting sometimes mischievous, but always kind brown eyes. Ron was quite handsome, and many fair ladies were drawn to the Southern gentleman. In true Kappa Alpha style, he engaged in words to defend the honor of an unknown lady. The stories are many.

Ron’s profound devotion to God and the tenets of the Episcopal church grounded him always. After graduation from Presbyterian College, Ron moved to Atlanta and began attending services at the Cathedral of Saint Philip, serving there as a Youth Advisor and Sunday School Teacher. Upon moving to Marietta, he and his family began attending the Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, where Ron served as a Vestryman and again as a Youth Advisor and Sunday School Teacher. Ron’s youth group members would call him for counsel, even years after they had passed through his class. Ron also served as a youth leader at his home church of Saint Peter’s in Rome. Several years ago, when he returned permanently to Rome, he began attending his childhood church once more. Ron was an advocate for the elderly, doing all that he could to educate them of the Medicare benefits available to them.

Ron had no fear of danger. He took up skydiving during his early days in Atlanta. Far less dangerous than skydiving or as physical as martial arts, but just as adventurous, camping and hiking were a big part of Ron’s life for quite a long time. Ron liked to backpack with tents and gear and pitch camp far into the woods, usually with friends or with his youth groups. But once Ron had children of his own, camping found a new purpose in bonding them together, if only camping in the backyard.

Ron’s pursuit of barbecue was almost an art. Chili dogs at the Four Way Lunch and other venues introduced to Ron by his father, Ronnie, ranked high in Ron’s culinary world. Dogs were also ever present in his life -- there was something forever captivating in a black or chocolate lab.

In politics, Ron was a conservative on the ready to debate politics. He volunteered with the State House and State Senate campaigns in multiple counties. Ron was a key volunteer on the Presidents Team. Ron had hopes of running for candidacy in his own Floyd County. He was nominated for the leadership program known as Republican Leadership for Georgia, for the Class of 2022. The 10-month program aims to produce the next generation of political leaders in Georgia’s Republican party. In appreciation to Rome, Floyd County, and the Floyd County Republican Women for their support of Presidents Team, Ron most recently organized a dinner for 200 guests in thanks of their support. The Hon. Randy Evans, Ambassador to Luxembourg, was the featured speaker. For his efforts, Presidents Team awarded Ron the Newt Gingrich Award for Public Service.

All of his accomplishments and public recognition notwithstanding, Ron’s greatest achievement was as a father, son, brother, the fun uncle and friend. With duty and respect, he honored family traditions and values. He took care of his parents three years of illness while fighting a previous cancer of his own. He partnered with his sister in. their care with h is assuming much more than his share. He always took a back seat, letting his older sister and her family take center stage. Ron’s devotion to Morgan, Shaw, and Mallory was conspicuous in evidence. When his son, Shaw, entered scouting, Ron became a scout troop leader. When Morgan began soccer, Ron became a soccer coach. When Mallory began competitive cheer, Ron became Mallory’s biggest cheerleader. Ron attended as many soccer, volleyball, basketball, and football games as well as gymnastic meets and cheerleading competitions as he could, nearly all of them. His ever presence often entailed commuting between Rome and Marietta, or points beyond. Ron continued the tradition, begun by his parents, of taking his family to Anna Maria Island in Florida every summer. Family and tradition were his life. Each night, Ron would have a phone call with each child, during which they said bedtime prayers and discussed the events of their days. Anyone who happened to be with Ron during one of these calls appreciated the attention and love that Ron gave to his children. Ron’s was a life well lived.

A memorial service for Ron Mixon will be held on Friday, February 4th, at Saint Peter’s Church in Rome, Georgia at 11:00 am. A reception and burial in the church memorial garden will follow. Much gratitude to Dr. Paul Brock for his continued wise intervention in our family’s health needs and to Ron’s girlfriend, Theodora Harrison, for her unceasing compassionate care and devotion. Donations may be made in honor of Ronnie Shaw Mixon to Darlington School, St. Peter’s Church or Camp Laney.

Home Page (darlingtonschool.org)

St. Peter's Episcopal Church | Rome, Georgia | 706-291-9111 (stpetersrome.org)

Overnight boys summer camp in Alabama, Camp Laney for Boys