Dixie Jones Lightfoot

DIXIE BEATRICE JONES LIGHTFOOT was born to the late Luther and Ella Jones on September 19, 1918, in Chapanoke, North Carolina. She transitioned from this life on April 1, 2014. She lost her mother at a very early age and was raised by a devoted aunt and uncle, Henry and Sarah Lilly Dildy (Mama Sarah). In 1927, Dixie gave her life to Christ in Porters Chapel AME Zion Church. Her young adult years were spent in Perquimans County, North Carolina where she attended school. She was known for her outstanding physical beauty, fashion sense, smart intellect, and her beautiful singing voice. While attending high school, she met James Issac Lightfoot. They married on February 15, 1936. Dixie and James struggled to make a life in North Carolina, but the lack of economic opportunity forced the young couple to migrate to Baltimore, Maryland. After experiencing many hardships, James was the second African American hired by Western Electric Company. This change brought about financial security for the young couple, and Dixie was able to raise her children with the knowledge of providing for them a better life. As a homemaker, Dixie was always able to take the humblest environment and make it into a warm, loving, fun filled, beautiful space in which her children could grow. Pulling taffy, making snow cream, singing songs and keeping our secrets are memories her children will cherish. She could always make the wrong things right. For example, when Joan unsuccessfully made her ninth grade graduation dress, Dixie saved the day by making it right. The home was always filled with beautiful melodies which instilled the love of music in her children. A woman of faith, Dixie ensured that her children would follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. She was an active member of Sharon Baptist Church, where she was a featured soloist on the Gospel Chorus and the Senior Choir. She supported her husband and, with him, was one of the founders of Highrock Missionary Baptist Church on West Garrison Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland, where she worked diligently beside him to build the new church. In 1980, Dixie and James returned to North Carolina and began a new life. Here she renewed old friendships and became a part of the community of Elizabeth City, North Carolina. She volunteered in the local hospital and remained an active member of The Ministers' Wives, serving as president for two years. In this role she traveled to many places both in and out of the country. Her amazing energy allowed her to raise her youngest grandson for the first eleven years of his life. Following the death of her husband in 2000, she returned to Baltimore. Here she resumed an active church life at Highrock where she became a deacon and was affectionately known as the Mother of the Church. She is survived by: her three sons, Rev. James I. Lightfoot, Jr., Calvin A. Lightfoot (Nancy), and Rev. Henry N. Lightfoot; four daughters, Joan L. Powell, Elois L. Coles (Lester), Pamela Sanders (Askew), Diane Smith; six grandsons, Leon Braswell, Jeffery Lightfoot (Joy), Keith Powell (LaTanya), Kelly Powell (Joyce), Justin Sanders, and Dominique Cook; four granddaughters, Lisa Williams, Nicole Sanchez (Fabio), Stacey Morgan (Benjamin) and Candace Sanders; loving nieces, Francine Ashby, Joyce Vargas, and Barbara Williams; nephews, Percy Zachary (Inez), Norman Wesson, Cottrell Wesson, and Lloyd Boone (Melissa); twelve great-grandchildren, six great-great-grandchildren, a host of other relatives and friends.

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Dixie Jones Lightfoot

September 19, 1918 - April 1, 2014