Rev. James Richard Dixon

Published 9:15 pm Thursday, March 1, 2018

Rev. James Richard Dixon, 77, a resident of 40 Carrow Road, Chocowinity, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Feb. 28, 2018, at Vidant Beaufort Hospital in Washington.

A funeral service will be held 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 3, 2018, at Union Chapel Free Will Baptist Church, located at 2110 Old New Bern Road, Chocowinity, officiated by Rev. Henry Horne and Rev. Joe Ange. Burial will follow in Oakdale Cemetery.

Rev. Dixon was born in Washington, on Sept. 26, 1940, to the late J. Hyman and Hattie Hill Dixon. He graduated from Chocowinity High School and was active in FFA, where he received the American Farmer Degree. He also attended Free Will Baptist Bible College and graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1968.

He pastored for three years at Saint John Free Will Baptist Church in Patrick, South Carolina, for six years at Stacy Free Will Baptist Church in Stacy, North Carolina, and retired after 33½ years of service at Cedar Grove Free Will Baptist Church in Williamston.

Rev. Dixon is survived by his wife and love of his life of 57 years, Eva Jean Elks Dixon; his beloved son, Tavner Leon Dixon and his wife, Laurie Vernelson Dixon, of Chocowinity; two grandsons, Holden Chase Dixon, of Montreat, and Jared Parker Dixon, of Chocowinity; and his sisters, Gladys Winstead, of Washington, Elizabeth Respess, of Terra Ceia, Dorcas Swain, of Hampton, Virginia, Shirley Elks, of Chocowinity, and his “little buddy,” his 3½-pound chihuahua “Cricket.” In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by two sisters: Nell Dixon Mills Roebuck and Maglona Dixon (infant).

The family will receive friends from noon until 2 p.m. prior to the service on Saturday at Union Chapel Free Will Baptist Church and other times at the home.

Flowers are welcomed and memorials may be made to Union Chapel Free Will Baptist Church, P.O. Box 38, Chocowinity, NC 27817.

On-line condolences may be addressed to the family by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com.

Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington is honored to serve the Dixon family.