William Dixon

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, January 30, 2008

NATCHEZ – Services for William Dixon, who died Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2008, will be at noon Thursday at Zion Hill Baptist Church , 349 Lower Woodville Road.
Burial will follow at Pine Hill Memorial Park under the direction of Concordia Funeral Home in Ferriday.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until service time Thursday at the church.
Mr. Dixon was lovingly known as “Bo,” “Baby Face,” “Baby,” and “Big Man.” He was the youngest of three children and the only child from the union of Will Hargrave and Rosa Lee Dixon.
William accepted Christ at 11 years of age and was baptized the first Sunday in September 1959 by the late Rev. Joseph H. McField who was pastor of Forest Aid Baptist Church at Carthage Point. He served there faithfully for many years. William believed deeply in the two great commandments of our God, first, to love the Lord our God with our whole heart, mind, soul and strength, and second, to love thy neighbor as thyself. He strived to fulfill these commandments.
The doors of education were opened to William at St. Francis, now Holy Family, Elementary and High Schools. He graduated in May of 1967. As a young man, he worked in various capacities around the city of Natchez before partnering with this father to raise cattle and horses. He also assisted his grandfather in farming. In the summer of 1968, William accepted a position with Armstrong, later Fidelity, Tire and Rubber Company in the curing department. He worked dutifully and conscientiously for the company for 30 years until retirement. It was at this time that William joined the security team employed by the Natchez Mall. He worked diligently on the team until the company’s service contract ended.
William enrolled at Louisiana Technical College, Shelvy Jackson campus, and received certification of training in the field of small engine repair. Shortly thereafter, he was offered and accepted employment with the Isle of Capri Casino & Hotel Security Department. He served with this department as a faithful and dependable employee until the time of his passing.
During earlier years, he was active in the King Fisherman’s Bass Club, Hunting Club, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and other organizations.
William was united in holy matrimony to Linda Bell, of Vidalia, on Jan. 1, 1977, and to this union one child was born, a daughter, LaTonya. William and Linda were blessed to share 31 years as husband and wife.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Alvin Bell; one grandson, Christopher Bell; grandparents, Paul Jones and Rosevelt “Chris” Dixon and Anna Liza Duncan Long. He was also the great-grandson of Emma Virginia Rosalee Wells Curtis, affectionately called “Mama Emma.”
Survivors left to share cherished memories of life with him are his wife, Linda; three daughters, Pamela King of Smyrna, Tenn., Connie Owens and husband, Charles, both of Garland, Texas and LaTonya Dixon and husband, Mayo, both of Greenbrier, Ark.; two sisters, Joyce Wesley and Paulette Marshall and husband, Addis, all of Natchez; 10 grandchildren, Ricky King, Kiara King, Kalan Williams, Edward Owens, Charleen Owens, Joshua Brew and Jordon Brew, Alvin Bell Jr., Xavier Bell and Tierra Bell; two nieces, Kimberly W. Freeman and husband, D’Regis, both of Smyrna, Tenn. and Kristy Marshall of Natchez; two nephews, Louis Wesley and wife, Rachael, both of Baton Rouge and Paul Rhodes of Afghanistan and wife, Carolyn, both of Natchez; aunt, Carrie Proby; five sisters-in-law, Mary Sykes and husband, James, both of Shreveport,La., Ella Mae Robinson of Baton Rouge, Margaret Williams of Los Angeles, Sammie Rose Warner and husband, Frank, and Johnnie Clay, all of Vidalia; two brothers-in-law, George Bell Jr. and wife, Rose, of Aries, Mass. and Lincoln Bell of Panovama City, Calif.; special friends, Hezikah Early, A.J. West, Addis Marshall, Lee Andrew Davis, Ike Jones, Adrain Lewis, George Minor and the Rev. James E. Brooks; and a number of other relatives and friends.
In addition, William was blessed to have an extended family left to cherish his memory, sisters, Antionette Stokes and husband, Roosevelt, both of Ferriday, Robbin Stokes and husband, Robert, both of Natchez, Mary Ellen Ussin and husband, the Rev. Greg Ussin, both of New Orleans; a number of nieces, nephews and other relatives.
William was a son, brother, student, Christian, husband, uncle, father, grandfather, friend, neighbor, confidant, nurturer, gardener, farmer, cattleman, sportsman, mentor, supporter, role model and foster dad. He gave an honest day’s work for a day’s pay.
We were blessed to share a part in his appointed 59 years of life.
Online condolences may be sent to www.concordiafuneralhomeinc.com.

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