Mrs Miriam Edith Willcox

Miriam Edith Willcox (née Johnson) of Reston, VA, age 101, passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 1, 2024 at Tysons Woods Assisted Living Facility in Vienna, VA. She was the wife of the late Donald Denison Willcox for 35 years.

Miriam was born in Chicago, Illinois on May 21,1923 to Gustav and Edith Johnson who raised her along with her two brothers Calvin and Kenneth Johnson. After graduating high school, she attended business college. She met her husband, Donald in Chicago and they were married in 1950. They moved to Webster Groves, Missouri in 1954 where they raised their 3 children, Andrew, Jared and Katherine.

As her children got older, Miriam volunteered at the Missouri Botanical Gardens and worked part-time at a local family nursery. She enjoyed gardening, volunteering in church activities, entertaining and was always up for a competitive game of bridge. Miriam is remembered as a mom who encouraged and supported her children’s interests and passed on her love of nature and the environment. In 1976, she and Donald moved to Ridgefield, Connecticut where they lived together up until Donald’s passing in 1985. Soon thereafter, she relocated to Warrenton, VA in 1989 to be near family. While living in Warrenton, Miriam continued to pursue her passion for gardening and became a Master Gardener as well as serving as president of the Francis Fauquier Garden Club. She volunteered at the Warrenton Welcome Center and in various community activities. She enjoyed cooking, entertaining, playing in bridge groups, traveling, and most of all spending time with her grandchildren. In 2009, Miriam moved to Reston, Virginia and continued to actively participate in all of her favorite activities. In 2018, she moved to Waltonwood Assisted Living in Ashburn and lived there until 2024 when she moved to Tysons Woods in Vienna where she spent her final months.

Throughout her long life, right up until her final year, Miriam was someone who was a “giver” and a “doer”. Wherever she lived, she was a catalyst in forming a community within her neighborhood. She brought people together and her generosity and love emanated through all that she did. She was always ready with a plant cutting to share or a plate of home-made cookies. She was always there when needed and loved her family unconditionally. She embraced life and gave of her time and talents to all she knew.

Miriam is survived by her children Andrew Willcox, Jared Willcox and wife Deborah Comstock-Willcox, Katherine Willcox-Bein and husband Jonathan Bein, step-son Donald Denison Willcox III and wife Laura Calk-Willcox, her grandchildren Jared (JD) Willcox and Rebecca Willcox and her partner Doug Burr. She was predeceased by her grandson Jonathan Alexander Bein in 2004. Miriam will be interred alongside her husband Donald in the family plot located within Fountain Hill Cemetery in Deep River, Connecticut.

Memorial contributions in Miriam’s name may be made either to :

Madden Open Hearts Camp; 250 Monument Valley Rd Great Barrington, Ma 01230: https://www.openheartscamp.org/

Tysons Woods Assisted Living; 2346 Greenbrier Way, Vienna, VA 22182. If by check, please make payable to Romanplatz LLC or if via Zelle please use office@tysonswoods.com