On Tuesday, December 31, 2013, a precious angel was called home. God gives special children to special parents. Valerie Veann Nixon was born on March 28, 1958 to Molly J. and Talmage O. Nixon. Valerie was born with Down syndrome and physical disabilities. The doctors kept trying to prepare Molly and Tab that she wouldn't live very long. By the time she became a teenager, the doctors quit trying to predict that outcome. Under the love and devotion given to her by Molly, Tab, her older brothers, Steve and Richard and caregiver Betty, she lived a wonderful life. Most people never experience that kind of love and devotion. It didn't take much to make Valerie happy. If you came with lotion, fingernail polish, a milkshake, or a picture of John Wayne, you had made her day. Not knowing it would be the last time, Steve did her nails with new polish on Christmas Day. That was (almost) better than the gifts. When her dad, Tab, died in 1995, she decided there was no reason to continue talking. We soon figured out what she needed by the tilt of her head or wave of her hands. Her mom, Molly, went into assisted living at Yadkin Nursing Center, and took Valerie with her. Under the loving care of the staff, Valerie soon became a favorite resident. Amy, her best friend at Yadkin Nursing Center (who could usually coax Valerie into agreement when she got a little stubborn) was able to be there holding her hand when she took her last breath. Valerie taught us patience, understanding and the need to love unconditionally. The family is very grateful for all the love and care given to Valerie by the staff at Yadkin Nursing Center. She was preceded in death by her devoted parents, Molly and Tab. She is survived by her brother and sister-in-law, Steve and Kathy Nixon and their family, Kendra, Jon, Jacey and Connor Wooten and Christopher, Ginger and Eleanor Nixon. She is also survived by her brother, Richard Nixon and his family, Aaron and Kathryn Nixon, Katie, Aiden, and Melanie Jane Nixon and Emily Grace Nixon. Valerie will be laid to rest Friday, January 3, 2014 with her parents at Parklawn Memorial Gardens in Winston Salem at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Scott Bishop officiating .In lieu of flowers the family request that memorials be made to March of Dimes 410 Brookstown Ave. Winston Salem, NC 27101 or American Heart Association 101 Centreport St. Greensboro, NC 27409.The family would like to thank the staff at Yadkin Nursing Center for all their love and care given to Valerie.
