Sigrid Elizabeth André Conway died peacefully on December 4, 2025 after years of suffering from dementia, which stole her remarkable, entertaining creativity and sharp intellect yet never diminished her beautiful spirit and unending love for life and everyone around her. She was 83 years old.
Sigrid was born on July 17, 1942 in Vicksburg to Mittie Slyhart André and Andreas Ferdinand André. She graduated from Cooper High School and first attended Millsaps College, where she was a Chi Omega, before transferring to University of Mississippi to study journalism and English. Soon after graduation, Sigrid married her high school sweetheart, John (Jack) A. Conway Jr. and moved to Starkville, where Jack was in graduate school. She secured the position of editor of the Mississippi State alumni magazine and lived up to the recommendation that Sigrid received from the chair of the Ole Miss Department of Journalism, which read in part: “This young lady can do a better job than anyone you could hire regardless of sex, age, or experience.”
Upon returning to Jackson, Sigrid went to work for Mississippi Educational Television (ETV) as an editor for print publications and video productions while also raising two sons, John and André. When her husband decided to start his own business, she supported him fully, first as the inaugural receptionist, bookkeeper and office manager at Conway Computer Consultants, and later by shouldering the largest burden at home while Jack worked long, demanding hours. She was a member in the Junior League of Jackson, practiced yoga for many years, and was active in politics and other social causes.
She was a parishioner at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church for more than 50 years, serving on the vestry, in the Altar Guild, and as a greeter. Many, many St. Philippians credit Sigrid with being the first person who welcomed them to the church, making them feel comfortable, loved and accepted. In 2025, St. Philip’s officially named its greeting committee “The Sigrid Society” in her honor.
In 1980, Sigrid joined Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), a program she credited with saving her life and giving her great joy and fulfillment. She became deeply involved in Jackson’s recovery community and helped so many others struggling with addiction to find health and happiness. With other community members, Sigrid also helped establish local groups of Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACA) and Alanon in Jackson. She loved AA, ACA and Alanon, and many of her most rewarding relationships were with people she knew while on this journey. She had over 45 years of continuous sobriety at the time of her death.
Sigrid found her greatest joy in her grandchildren, Benjamin and Julia. They became the main focus of her and Jack’s time and energy, and she relished every moment with them, showing them the importance of compassion for others, instilling in them a sense of civic duty, showering them with love and attention and spoiling them rotten. She served the children after-school snacks of filet mignon, took them on midnight trips to Waffle House, and shared with them her obsession with true-crime documentaries. Sorry to break it to the rest of the candidates, but Siggie and Papa were simply the best grandparents ever.
Sigrid is preceded in death by her husband, John (Jack) A. Conway Jr.; brother, Carl Ferdinand André; and her son, Carl André Conway, and is survived by her son, John Armistead Conway III; her grandchildren Benjamin Armistead Conway, of New Orleans; Julia Rivers Conway, of Atlanta; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be made to “André’s Fund,” part of the Mississippi Diocese’s Episcopal Recovery Program at The Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi, P.O. Box 23107, Jackson, MS, 39225; St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, 5400 Old Canton Road, Jackson, MS 39211; or to any charities that support the City of Jackson’s youth.
Funeral services for Sigrid will be held on Saturday, December 13 at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Jackson. Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. with the service following at 11:00 a.m.
