In Memoriam Julie Wilcox

March 31, 1960 – May 9, 2023

Julie Wilcox, beloved wife, mother, and nurse, died with family at her side in her home in Marietta, Georgia on Tuesday, May 9 at the age of 63 following a three-year battle with brain cancer. Julie was born to Major Peter Sharron Downing and Katherine (Kay) Hoey Downing in 1960 at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. She is survived by her brother Michael Downing, daughters Katie Wilcox and Jaimie Quintero, and husband of 35 years, John Wilcox. She was preceded in death by her younger brother, Peter Sharron Downing Jr., and her mother and father.

Julie had an eventful childhood, as her father’s military career required the family to move many times. Julie graduated from the school of nursing at the University of Vermont and began her career at Boston’s Beth Israel Hospital. After cutting her teeth at Beth Israel, her quest for adventure led her to seek and accept a position in the heart transplant unit at the Stanford University Hospital in Palo Alto, California. Unbeknownst to Julie, her future husband, John, was at the time working in collaboration with Stanford at the University’s Environmental Safety Facility, only one block away from the hospital.

Not long after moving to California, John and Julie met through one of the original video dating clubs, where they found themselves mutually attracted to one another’s biographies. They began dating, and in short order agreed to make their relationship exclusive. She and John married and lived together in San Jose, California until 1991. During that time Julie transitioned from hospital to home care nursing and began her long career in providing and managing home infusion therapy.

In 1991 Julie and John were ready to have a family, and decided to relocate to John’s hometown of Marietta, Georgia to be closer to family. Shortly thereafter, Julie gave birth to daughters Katie and Jaimie and stayed at home to care for them for several years. After her children entered school, Julie resumed her career and worked as a key infusion nursing care provider and nursing manager for a succession of high-profile commercial infusion pharmacies. Julie obtained her CRNI® from the Infusion Nurses Society in 1998 and held this certification for 25 years, until 2023.

Julie gladly helped friends, neighbors, and family in need. She patched wounds, brought food and care to the ill, helped friends overcome financial problems, and greatly enjoyed helping others plan and celebrate momentous occasions. She raised by example two fine daughters who have been successful in life and are also compassionate and quick to do whatever they can to help those in need.

Julie’s family would like to recognize and thank the many neighbors, family friends and extended family members for their condolences, concern, help, and emotional support that was freely given during this time of need. In particular, the family thanks Margaret and Pete McIntyre and Mary McGoldrick, who strove to brighten Julie’s final days and who provided much needed expert advice and support during a trying time, and Katie’s and Jaimie’s husbands, who selflessly cared for Julie and provided unwavering support to their wives.