Ann Nixon Kay, 82, died Saturday, April 29, 2023, at her home in Tupelo. She was born July 20, 1940, to Minor Rubel Nixon and Katherine Martin Nixon in Burnsville, Mississippi.
Born with God-given musical and artistic gifts, she honed these gifts with perseverance, persistence and practice and shared them through performance, teaching, leadership and service.
Growing up in Iuka, Mississippi, Ann discovered her love of music as a child and never wavered in her passion for the piano. Taught first by a graduate of the Cincinnati Conservatory, she so impressed the board of the First United Methodist Church in Iuka that, at the age of 12, they asked her to take organ lessons at a nearby college so that she could play for each Sunday morning service. She played the organ at both the Methodist Church and the Presbyterian Church in Iuka for several years.
Her high school activities, honors, and awards include playing flute in high school band, serving as a majorette and drum majorette, being named most talented female student, and being crowned most beautiful in the annual pageant. She played for almost every musical event at the school and received the Music Award at graduation.
There was never a question about what major course of study she would pursue, first at Judson College in Marion, Alabama and later at University of North Alabama. While a freshman at Judson, she was selected from the freshmen class along with upperclassmen to perform in a special recital. Tracing her musical lineage back to Liszt, Ann was taught by piano professors at the University of North Alabama who were graduates of Julliard and completed post-graduate studies under Julliard graduates. She graduated from the University of North Alabama in 1962 with a degree in piano performance.
After graduating from college, she married Harold Kay on July 21, 1962, after first meeting him at the water fountain when she was in second grade and he was in third. Together, they reared three daughters, traveled widely and built a life and home that was a source of solace and strength for each other and their family.
She possessed creativity in abundance and this trait surfaced in numerous ways: through her piano performance, her watercolors, drawings and oil paintings; and even great storytelling. She could make even the most ordinary events entertaining stories with her quick wit and keen observations.
Ann believed in always minding your manners and never giving up. She believed in being smart, talented, on time and well-dressed for the occasion. She had high standards for herself, her daughters and her students and helped them meet the standards through her guidance, instruction and, most importantly, her example. She believed in pursuing dreams with a plan and hard work.
Ann had an amazing memory, perhaps strengthened through years of memorizing music, that could be a blessing or a curse, depending on what excruciatingly embarrassing story about one of her daughters she was recalling. She also had a talent for making every event, holiday, birthday or celebration amazing and special. From decorating the house for holidays throughout the year, to preparing the traditional Christmas Eve oyster dinner, to giving hints about presents that were impossible to guess but made perfect sense after you opened the gift, to spur-of-the-moment picnics in the park, she was equally skilled at creating memories as she was at recalling them.
From playing for Sunday School at age 6, Ann never stopped performing. She performed in many genres and venues as a soloist, duo pianist, chamber music musician, harpsichordist, and piano soloist with orchestra. With her chamber music ensemble, she performed for many events, including the statewide celebration of Public Radio of Mississippi and at the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion. She assisted the Tupelo High School string program and performed as piano soloist with the orchestra. In addition, she performed with the Tupelo Regional and Youth Community Orchestra, participated in various programs at the Link Centre and First United Methodist Church of Tupelo, and performed as a recitalist.
She combined her musical talent with her flair for the dramatic as she performed one of Adaline Shepherd’s compositions as the composer at the National Federation of Music Club’s national convention held recently in Milwaukee. Dressed in period costume, she completed the performance with a soliloquy as Shepherd.
A Nationally Certified Teacher of Music (NCTM), Ann taught dozens of students, including her three daughters and five grandchildren, over four decades. Her students received countless awards, gold cups, and scholarships. One of her students was the first in Mississippi to earn 12 consecutive gold cups in the Mississippi Federation of Music Clubs’ annual competition program. She was a Junior Music Club Counselor for more than 25 years and twice served as president of the Music Forum of Tupelo, the local chapter of the Mississippi Music Teachers Association.
She devoted countless hours of service to the National Federation of Music Clubs and its local, state, and regional affiliated organizations, serving on committees, chairing committees, serving as an officer and leading as president. She served as president of the Mississippi Federation of Music Clubs and its local chapter, Fortnightly Musicale. For the national organization, the National Federation of Music Clubs, she served as a Board Member-at-Large, Chairman of the American Women Composers, Insignia Chairman and American Music Chairman for the Southeastern Region. She was a Rose Fay Thomas Fellow.
A member of United Methodist Women, Ann was very involved in First United Methodist Church of Tupelo, sharing her talent through countless programs, serving as a member of the Altar Guild for more than 20 years, and helping with countless children and youth activities when her daughters were growing up.
She was also an active member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Cameo Society and Colonial Dames. She played for several DAR programs.
With an indominable spirit and ferocious tenacity, Ann was a light that shone brightly for her family, her friends and her students. Her memory will continue to light and guide their way all the days of their lives.
Cutshall Funeral Home of Iuka, Mississippi is entrusted with the arrangements. Visitation is scheduled for 9 a.m. until 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 4, 2023 in the Gathering Room at First United Methodist Church in Tupelo, with services to follow at 10:30 a.m. in the sanctuary. Visitation and committal services are scheduled for 2 p.m. at Oak Grove Cemetery in Iuka.
Pallbearers include Mitch Ellett, Breck Jones, Connor Postoak, Terry Swindol, John Swinkowski and Robert Womack. Honorary pallbearers include the Mark-Monroe Sunday School Class, Sue King Kirby, Marie Taylor Oakes, and Judy and Bill Moore.
Survivors include her husband of more than 60 years, Harold Kay, three daughters, Katherine Ann Jones (Bob) of Water Valley, Mississippi; Caron Elizabeth Blanton (Danny) of Madison, Mississippi; and Jennifer Leigh Postoak (Darren) of Gainesville, Florida; five grandchildren, Breck Matthew Jones (Jessica) of Oxford, Mississippi; Autumn Faith Jones Swinkowski (John) of Water Valley, Mississippi; Kaylee Ann Postoak, Connor Wayne Postoak and Taylor Elise Postoak of Gainesville, Florida; and one great-grandchild, Elijah Quay Jones of Oxford, Mississippi; and one brother, Douglas Denley Nixon of Huntsville, Alabama. She is preceded in death by her parents.
Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, Fortnightly Musicale’s Alice Anderson Scholarship Fund, or the charity of your choice. An online guestbook may be accessed at www.cutshallfuneralhome.com.