Kevin Levin Dixon

KEVIN LEVIN DIXON, lovingly referred to as “Kevin L,” son of John Dixon Jr. and Marietta (Dixon) Freeman entered this life on January 2, 1967 in Baltimore, Maryland. He suddenly departed this life on March 4, 2021 at Montgomery General Hospital in Olney, Maryland. When Kevin was born, little did his young parents know that God had given them a blessing with a challenge. Kevin was born with Down Syndrome. However, with the help of loving maternal grandparents, an accepting extended family, dedicated teachers, his parents raised and educated a very loving and caring young man. His disability became our blessing. At the age of twelve, Kevin unprompted, walked to the front of the church and accepted Christ as his Savior. He was baptized at Gospel Tabernacle Baptist Church located in Baltimore, MD under the leadership of Rev. Edgar L. Reid. In 1986 the family relocated from Howard County to Montgomery County, Maryland. After the move Kevin and his maternal grandmother and mother all joined Poplar Grove Baptist Church in Darnestown, Maryland under the leadership of Rev. James E. Prather. Kevin graduated with a high school diploma from The Longview School located in Montgomery County, MD in June 1988. During his school years, he often participated in the annual Special Olympics winning various medals. After completing school, he attended the Shady Grove Adventist Adult Daycare Center. For over 35 years Kevin resided with his mother, grandmother, sisters, and nephew. As Kevin matured into manhood, the family realized that Kevin needed room to spread his wings, become more independent and have friends that he could enjoy and identify with. He needed a life outside of the family’s protected nest. In 1999, Kevin entered residential care with the CHI Centers of Maryland. He moved from the family home into a beautiful warm and well maintained 3-person group home in Rockville. He had his own private room, TV, his beloved record player, his collection of stuffed animals and family pictures. Kevin easily made friends and the transition went smoothly. His two male housemates, Johnson and Lewis became his brothers. They enjoyed their daily routine and outings. They went shopping and went on vacations together. Weekdays, they all attended sheltered workshops where Kevin learned to plant a garden, grown plants, stuff envelopes and other miscellaneous tasks. During the 20+ years in the CHI Center, he participated in various job training classes, theatre plays, singing groups, dances for the residents, summer outings and birthday parties. Kevin was loved and well cared for by the caregivers and staff. Kevin enjoyed living with “his crew”. He especially loved the home cooked meals but could always locate the “golden arches” in dense fog. Kevin was known by his sweet disposition, his special relationship with his maternal grandmother “Gran Gran”, his big wide grin, must have a radio playing on a car ride, thief of church fans, a strong desire for order/neatness, his great appetite and a loud Amen at the end of the blessings. He will be missed by his birth, church, and CHI families. He leaves to cherish his memory: his father, John Dixon Jr.; mother, Marietta L. (Dixon) Freeman; two sisters, Anissa DeLuca and Monica Dixon; two brothers-in-law, Russell DeLuca and Ledrew Davis; aunts, Lula West, Verna Brown, Emma Curtis, Grace Dixon and Lorraine Smith; uncle, James Curtis; five nieces, Yauna Dixon-Davis, Jessie Dixon, Leya Dixon-Davis, Mackenzie DeLuca and Danielle DeLuca; two nephews, Parker Deluca and D’Arron Dixon; his fiancée, Rachele Williams; three grandnieces, three grandnephews, many cousins and friends.

Tributes

Kevin Levin Dixon

January 2, 1967 - March 4, 2021