Dorothy C. Dixon

DoroThY cecIlIa-ann DIXon was called home to be with our Lord on Friday, July 25, 2014. She was the daughter of the late George Washington Dixon and Irene Elizabeth Colbert-Dixon, and was born March 14, 1916 at 607 Dolphin Street in Baltimore, Maryland. She was blessed to have given birth to one daughter, Elizabeth Irene Dixon. She moved in with her sister, Lucille Talley and her husband in 1953. Dorothy received her education in the Baltimore City school system and learned to sew at a vocational school. She made all of her clothes, her daughter’s, and all of her nieces' and nephews' clothes. She made their Easter clothes as they were growing up. She was a classy lady with a sense of style. Dorothy worked for Daniel and Catherine Tooney for 25 years. She started working in the Dean’s office at University of Maryland Dental School in 1948, where she retired after 30 years in 1978. She was a member of Saint Cecilia’s church for 53 years and 17 years as the Mother of the church. Dorothy’s father, whom she fondly called “Pop-Pop”, told her to always know where his children and grandchild were, and she that is what she did. She kept in touch with ALL her nieces and nephews. She looked out for her nieces and nephews as best she could. To her, family was everything. Dorothy and Lucille always had an “Open House” policy to family, friends, the community, and the church, especially the “Sisters of Oblate”. They both loved to travel and gave trips every summer. Whenever you asked Dorothy how she was doing, she always replied, “I woke up this morning and thank you for so many mornings”. Dorothy was a no nonsense person. Everything had to be done in decency and order; there was a time and place for everything. If you said or did something she did not approve of, you got “the LOOK”. Dorothy loved to serve her community. She loved children and working in her church – “She even had keys to the church”. She served in the soup kitchen at Saint Cecilia’s since 1987, right up until her death at age 98. She loved her “SOUP kitchen”. Dorothy and her sister, Lucille Talley, initiated the establishment of the Social Life Committee at St. Cecilia’s Church since 1977. She and Lucille assisted with sewing the many squares on the Parish quilt for St. Cecilia’s 95th anniversary. She served on Saint Cecilia’s Parish Council at least 7 times over 35 years. She was a member of the Bereavement Ministry, Boy Scouts, and the Anniversary Committee of St. Cecilia. She was the Chairperson of St. Cecilia’s 75th Anniversary Banquet Committee in 1980. Dorothy served as President of Walbrook Community Neighborhood Association for 35 years. She was responsible for the children’s playground on Poplar Terrace. Dorothy was a staunch advocate for justice through BUILD (Baltimoreans United in Leadership Development) initiatives. Dorothy was a member of the Willing Workers, supporting the Oblate Sisters of Providence for over 50 years. She was a past parishioner of Saint Monica Church (where Camden yards now stands) and Saint Pius Parishes. She was considered an honorary member of Concord Baptist Church. Dorothy was the recipient of the Mother Lange Service Award presented by Bishop Gordon D. Bennett, SJ during the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s Office of African American Catholic Ministry Banquet. She received the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s Social Justice Award for distinguished outreach to those in need by Bishop Dennis J. Madden. She was named as Mother, Aunt, Grandmother, and Godmother to countless infants, children and adults within both the church and community. Embracing the spirit and ministry of St. Vincent de Paul, Dorothy Dixon anchored her mission in life to reach out to those who struggled, especially children, the homeless, dis-enfranchised, fire victims, and the poor. If it was on at St. Cecilia’s, Dorothy was there with her signature statement…”Well Alright Now!” Mother Dixon was a true example of “It Takes a Village”. Her ‘Homegoing’ leaves a tremendous void in the lives of all who knew her. We are so blessed that the Lord put her in our lives. Dorothy is survived by: her daughter, Elizabeth I. Dixon; two sisters, Lucille Talley of Baltimore (whom she lived with for over 60 years) and Kitty M. Dixon of Brooklyn, New york; one nephew, Wilbert (Wanda) Talley; two nieces, Ida (William) Lee and Lisa Z. Murphy, both of Brooklyn, New york; eight great-nieces, two great-nephews, 80+ great-great-nieces and -nephews, and a host of friends.

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Dorothy C. Dixon

March 14, 1916 - July 25, 2014