Joanna Lee Hudgins Mullis Nix

Joanna Lee Hudgins Mullis Nix, 82, departed this life on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 surrounded by family at her home in New Point, VA. Joanna was a lifelong resident of Mathews, VA and a longstanding member of Beulah Church. At Beulah she held many positions over the years some of which were Sunday School teacher, pianist, organist and choir director. She had three successful careers in her life. She retired from Langley AFB (court reporter and first director of EEO), Office Manager for a Gloucester Law Firm and lastly, worked alongside her husband, Henry Nix, at N & N Services. If anyone ever asked her, she simply would say, “I failed at retirement.” She was a founding member of Donk’s Theater – Virginia’s Lil Ole Opry where for over 30 years she was the Production Manager for both the theater and the popular local band, Shades of Country. Joanna loved music, cooking, gardening, quilting and grass cutting but most of all, she loved the Lord and her family with her whole heart. She always welcomed anyone and everyone into her home to share fellowship, music and a delicious meal she had graciously prepared. To help someone less fortunate was her joy. She always did it with a great amount of love and never looked for any reward in return. She leaves a tremendous void in her immediate and extended family. Joanna was born on May 18, 1941. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, William L. Hudgins and Jessie Lee Smith; her first husband, Guy W. Mullis and her second husband, Henry Nix. She is survived by her daughters, Joice Burnette (Steve) of Mathews, Terry Robinson of Henrico, VA and Amy Halliwell (David) of North Augusta, SC and step-son, Boyd Nix (Sharon) of Williamsburg. She was a proud Nanny to her grandchildren, Sarah B. Sweet (Mike), Scott Halliwell, Paul Burnette and Ciao Robinson, step-grandchildren, Michelle Lyons (Matt), Laura Nix Berg (Wayne) and Melissa Nix (Angel) and great-grandmother to Sullivan Sweet and step-great grandchildren, Alana Lyons and Ethan Lyons. She is also survived by her sisters, Betsy Ripley and Janice Phillips, both of Mathews, and special adopted sister, Ellen McGowan of Gloucester in addition to many loving nieces, nephews and cousins.

 A memorial service will be held at Beulah Church, 7505 New Point Comfort Highway, New Point, Virginia on Saturday, May 4, 2024 with visitation beginning at 11 am followed by the service at noon. Donations may be made in Joanna’s memory to Beulah Church of New Point, c/o Kay Strigle, 1130 Lighthouse Road, Port Haywood, VA. 23138, Hands Across Mathews, PO Box 1303, Mathews, VA 23109, Mathews Community Foundation, PO Box 1037, Mathews, VA 23109 or the charity of your choice. The family would like to give special thanks to Amanda Love, Alverta Jones and Riverside Walter Reed Hospice for the loving care they gave. Faulkner Funeral Homes, Foster-Faulkner Chapel, Mathews, Virginia is assisting the family with arrangements.