MIGNON HUMPHREY BRUCE, 95, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother; faithful servant of God, patron of the arts, activist, educator and wonderful friend—finished a long journey Tuesday, October 14, 2014, at Habersham County Medical Center after a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.
Born December 15, 1918 in Union City, Tennessee, she was the only child of the late Claude Thomas and Ruth Rowland Humphrey. The family would later move to Columbus, Mississippi to give Mignon access to a great education , which she received at Mississippi State College for Women. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Home Economics and a minor in Chemistry, and went on to become a Home Economics teacher. During that time she met and married James Leonard Bruce, and together they celebrated 59 years of marriage. After the birth of their second child, the Bruce family moved to Cornelia to start the Yonah Realty and Yonah Packaging Companies.
Mignon stayed home to raise four children while becoming active in the First Presbyterian Church of Cornelia, where later she became the first ordained female Deacon. She went on to become an Elder in the church, a Sunday school teacher, Girl Scout leader, Cub Scout Den Mother, Boy Scout supporter and leader of the church’s Presbyterian Women’s group. She was a member of the Habersham Arts Council, Three Arts Club officer many times, and worked to establish Appletree Theatre. Mignon was a staunch supporter of women’s rights, marching in Washington in 1989 in support of equality for women.
A lover of fine arts of all kinds, she was a talented, well-known watercolorist, and took lessons well into her 70s. She donated all the proceeds from her art sales to the Cornelia Library. Pre-deceased by her husband James Leonard Bruce, Sr., her legacy of love, generosity, and whimsical spirit will live on in the hearts of her family and dear friends who survive her: Children, James Leonard, Jr. and Anne McGregor Bruce of Cornelia; Claudia Mignon Bruce and Linda Lou Mussmann of Hudson,New York; Thomas David Bruce of Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Franklin Tobias and Gabriela Strand Bruce of San Francisco, California. Grandchildren: Catherine McGregor Bruce and Mitch Simpson of Cornelia, Neile Tyler Bruce and Andy Chambers of Cleveland, Ga., and Emma Mignon Bruce of Canterbury, England.Great-grandchildren: Avery Anne Rowland Chambers, Duren McGregor Chambers, Elloree Catherine Chambers, Michael McGregor Bruce Simpson, and Hollen James Chambers. Additionally, she is survived by her devoted loving friends and caregivers of many years, Brenda Barrett and Robin Armour. May we be ever-mindful of her legacy and fine example of serving “the least of these.”
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Circle of Hope, P. O. Box 833, Cornelia, Ga. 30531 or Time and Space Limited, P. O. Box 343, Hudson, New York 12534 or the Habersham Humane Society, 4132 Toccoa Highway, Clarkesville, Ga. 30523.
A graveside memorial service is planned for 1 P. M., Wednesday, November 5, 2014, at Level Grove Cemetery in Cornelia led by the Reverend Andy S. Chambers.
A visitation opportunity with the family will follow at McGahee Griffin Stewart Funeral Home from 3 until 5 P.M. and 6 until 8 P.M.
McGahee Griffin and Stewart Funeral Home and Habersham Crematory (706/778-8668) of Cornelia, Georgia are in charge of arrangements.
