Ann Jeanette (Fowler) Fox

Mrs. Ann Jeanette Fowler Fox, age 95, passed away Monday, July 23, 2018 at the Madison County Nursing Home in Canton, MS.  An accomplished musician and passionate champion for music education, she was the only child of James Whitfield and Elizabeth (Bessie) Sherman Fincher Fowler of Holmes County Mississippi.

Visitation will be at Breeland Funeral Home on Friday, July 27, 2018 from 5:00 – 7:00 pm and on Saturday at First United Methodist Church from 10:00 am until the 11:00 am funeral service.  Burial will be in the Canton Cemetery.

Mrs. Fox was born December 3, 1922 in Tutwiler, MS where she attended Tutwiler Elementary School.  The family later moved to Greenwood, MS and she graduated from Greenwood High School in 1940.  Mrs. Fox then attended Mississippi State College for Women in Columbus, MS for two years before transferring to Louisiana State University, where she graduated with a degree Elementary Music Education in 1944.  Afterwards, she attended the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago, IL.

Mrs. Fox began her career in elementary music education in Inverness, MS where she lived for two years before taking a position with the Oxford Elementary School.  While in Oxford, she served as a Practice Teacher Supervisor for the Education Department at the University of Mississippi.

In April of 1948, she married James Hester Fox, Jr. and soon after moved to Canton, MS, where she remained for the rest of her life.  While in Canton she taught music at Canton Elementary School and then later at Canton Academy.  A life-long Methodist, she served as church organist for the First United Methodist Church, Canton for over 50 years. She also directed the church’s hand bell choir and attended the Blanche Howell Circle.

She was an active member of the Canton Music Study Club and served as State President for the Mississippi Federation of Music Clubs from 1987 - 1989.  Over the years she worked tirelessly in different capacities to support the Federation’s music festivals and junior scholarship programs.  From 1980 to 1982, she served as President of the Canton Academy Band Auxiliary.  

Mrs. Fox will be remembered for her talented contributions to many nuptials and community programs.   In 1963, she was recognized for her service with an Award of Special Merit from the Canton Chamber of Commerce.  She was a member of the Kappa Delta Sorority, the Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity, and the Delta Kappa Gamma International Society for women educators.  She was one of the last surviving members of Canton’s notorious Pinochle Club.

She is survived by her three sons, James Fox (Susan Martin) of Gluckstadt, MS, John Fox of Canton, MS and Robert Fox of Oklahoma City, OK; her grandchildren Jimmy Fox (Jennifer Bushmiaer) of Canton, MS and Jennifer Fox (Laurel Shute) of Nesbit, MS; and her great grandchildren Davis Fox of Benton, MS, Brayden Fox and Keeton Ray Fox of Nesbit, MS, and Bailey Burnside, and Miller Burnside of Canton.

The family ask that memorial contributions be made to The Canton Music Study Club Scholarship Fund, C/O Cecil Fox, P O Box 534, Canton, MS 39046 or the music department of the First United Methodist Church, Canton, MS.

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