Roosevelt Dixon Jr.

Published 12:00 am Friday, August 17, 2007

GULFPORT — Services for Roosevelt Earl Dixon Jr., who died Sunday, Aug. 12, 2007, at Memorial Hospital, in Gulfport, will be 10 a.m. Saturday at St. James Baptist Church.

Burial will follow at Roxie First Baptist Church Cemetery, in Roxie, under the direction of Hartwell’s Christian Mortuary Inc., of Gulfport.

Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until service time Saturday at the church.

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Mr. Dixon was born May 16, 1944, in Franklin County, the son of the late Roosevelt Earl Dixon Sr. and Bessie Mae McCoy Dixon. He acknowledged his faith in God at an early age and united with Roxie Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Rev. Clyde Briggs. He later united with the St. James Baptist Church where he was deeply committed to the service of the church. He was a member of the Trustee Ministry and the Male Choir.

Mr. Dixon attended the Mount Olive High School, in Kirby, and graduated in 1962. In May 1966, he graduated from Alcorn State University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in art/science. He taught school at Eva Gorden High School, Long Beach Middle School and Harrison Central High School. He was later employed with the Head Start and Job Corps of America. For the last 20 years, he was employed with the Mississippi Regional Housing Authority Section 8.

His legacy of love shall remain forever in the hearts and minds of loved ones as they cherish his memories. His most precious memories are with his wonderful and compassionate wife of 27 loving years, Ruthy B. Marshall Dixon. Also cherishing his memories are his daughters, Daphne Reed and husband, Hillman, of Seattle, Wash. and Nikki Witherspoon of Gulfport; a son, Fredrick Witherspoon and wife, Antoinette, of Gulfport; adoring grandchildren, Hillary, Ty, Imani, Elijah and Kaley; a sister, Carol Hickingbottom of Natchez; a god sister, Arlene Taylor and husband, Calvin, of Gulfport; an aunt, Viola Mason of Roxie; brothers-in-law, Charles Marshall and wife, Glenda, of Gulfport and James Marshall and wife, Mary Ann, of Magnolia; sisters-in-law, Bobbie Jagers of Magnolia, Dorothy Varnado and husband, Robert, of Oskya and Alice Stephens and husband, Walter, of McComb; and a number of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.