Miranda Fite Hires

Miranda (“Randy”) Fite Hires, 73, of St. Simons Island, passed away unexpectedly at home on October 11, 2022. She was the daughter of the late Glenn A. Fite and the late Thelma Moore Fite, who moved to St. Simons Island before Randy entered the first grade at St. Simons Elementary School. Randy attended Glynn County schools and graduated from Glynn Academy in 1966. In her senior year of high school, she was the editor-in-chief of the school’s yearbook, among other accomplishments.

Randy graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1970, with a degree in art history, and married Stephen D. Hires, of Brunswick, who predeceased her earlier this year. The couple moved to Chapel Hill, N.C., where Steve was pursuing an M.B.A. degree from the University of North Carolina. During the two years Randy lived in Chapel Hill, she worked as a school teacher. Randy and Steve then moved to Charlotte, N.C., where they lived for 34 years, until Steve’s retirement in 2006. While in Charlotte, Randy worked for about fifteen years for NCNB, now Bank of America, as a mortgage analyst. After retiring from NCNB, Randy volunteered in several capacities at the Mint Museum for Art, and she pursued her lifelong interest in crafts of various types, including weaving, sketching, and basket weaving. She attended the Penland School of Craft and explored many other crafts disciplines, including personal stationery design and development.

After returning to St. Simons Island in 2007, Randy and Steve continued and expanded their joint interests in the arts, including music, opera, and theater. They were avid travelers and made many trips to various countries, always with a purpose of exploring history, the arts, and fine food and wine. In connection with the latter, Randy became a highly accomplished cook and during her travels, she regularly attended cooking and wine seminars, including several visits to the Aspen Food and Wine Festival. She enjoyed sharing her culinary skills through dinners and parties for their friends.

Randy loved cats, and during her life, she always had several in her home. She gave her cats everything they could possibly need or want, and she regarded them as her “children.” She was survived by only one of her cats, Kitty Carson, who passed away shortly after her death.

Any tributes may be directed to either the Glynn County Humane Society, or the St. Simons Island Land Trust.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Edo Miller & Sons Funeral Home and Oglethorpe Crematorium in Brunswick.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.edomillerandsons.com for the Hires family.