Mary Evelyn Atkins Dixon
Mary Evelyn Atkins Dixon, 83, of Gladstone, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, April 29, 2009 at the home of her daughter, Peggy.
She was born in Halifax County, September 11, 1925, and came to the Gladstone area as a young bride to her late husband, 1st Lt. John Henry Dixon of Buckingham County. In addition to her husband she was preceded in death by her parents, Samuel Hale Atkins and Lemma Beatrice Dixon, her step father, Jake Davis, and her first grandson, Toby Williams.
Mary was a member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. In her earlier years, she was a Sunday school teacher and faithful member of the Maple Grove Baptist Church. She was an active supporter of Christian radio programs, the Gladstone Senior Center, and her many homebound friends. Mary served the Lord for many years and in many ways like caring for her father, mother, father-in-law, and step-father in her home until their deaths. Through the years, she opened her home to many relatives and friends, where they enjoyed her coconut pies and cornbread. She loved her house to be full of the sounds of children's voices, laughter and life and made daily jokes almost up to the end even though she was so very sick with cancer.
She leaves behind her four children, Bootsie and Bear Kelsey of Wasilla, Alaska, John "Bubby" and Lou Dixon, Joanne and Gomer Absher both of Gladstone, and Peggy Dixon of Madison Heights; nine grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren and two brothers, Alan Atkins of Blairs and R. E. Atkins of Biloxi, MS.
Funeral services will be held 2:00 pm, Saturday, May 2, 2009, at Robinson Funeral Home by the Rev. Howard Rosen, Rev. John Franklin, and Dr. Emmett Dunnavent. Burial will follow in the Dixon Family Cemetery in the James River State Park. Following the service there will be a celebration of Mary's life with refreshments at the Gladstone Senior Citizen Center.
The family will receive friends at the home of her son, John, 1107 Gladstone Rd., Gladstone, Friday from 5-8:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers the family request that donations be made to the Youth Group at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, 1663 Mt. Rush Hwy., Dillwyn, VA 23936, Hospice of the Hills, 3300 Rivermont Ave., Lynchburg, VA 24503, or the Friends of the James River State Park, 751 Park Rd., Gladstone.