“Let’s go have fun!” was the rallying call heard by her six kids, cousins, neighborhood kids in earshot, and anyone who wanted to pile into Nancy Dixon’s station wagon to go on a spring break or summer daytrip! Carloads of kids spent their summer days at Blue Bird Gap Farm, the zoo, beaches, libraries, movies and Mallory Pool because Nancy Ann Buckingham Dixon believed peanut butter sandwiches, lots of friends and playing outside until the “streetlights came on” was what a good childhood looked like. She appreciated and supported Broadway and local community and children’s theater with season tickets. Which was really just another excuse to get together with her friends and make a date with her grandchildren.
Besides family, she valued her friendships most. Nancy Dixon spent a lifetime cultivating abundant and unique circles of friends from various Bridge Clubs where she was “taught by the best” by her dear friend Nancy Mills, Loyola Book Club (40 years) and the Southside Girls’ Lunch Group. During her last weeks in her fight against pancreatic cancer she still managed to host two of her dinner groups for St. Patrick’s Day and a Game Night!
After raising her children, her mantra became, “I am too much fun to be kept at home! Jody and Nancy embarked on their first cruise on The Queen Elizabeth II with Nancy Mills and their extended love of cruising began! Over the years, they cruised all over the Caribbean, through the Panama Canal, and even a Transatlantic Crossing. She was proud of her adventures to Japan and Hawaii to visit their twin daughters, and enjoyed group trips to Israel and Rome. While in Italy for the Canonizations of Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II in April 2014, they were not able to get close enough to see the Pope; so she staged a drive by for the crowd by walking back and forth in front of the crowd making a bobble-head Pope statue wave at everyone. She was all about making people laugh and sharing her huge smile.
Nancy graduated from Granby High School (1957) and was a member of the Drill Team. She earned a Business Certificate from Longwood College, and is a member of Alpha Chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority. She went on to earn a Masters Certificate of Religious Education from Loyola Institute for Ministry Extension at Loyola University, New Orleans. She was an active member of St. Vincent de Paul and Immaculate Conception Catholic Churches. Nancy served the Church for over 40 years in religious formation for adults and sacramental preparation for parents and children. She was well known in the Catholic Diocese for her work with the Eastern Vicariate, and served on many ministries. Nancy retired as Director of Faith Formation at Church of St. Therese in Chesapeake, VA.
80 years young she was a devoted wife to Joseph F. Dixon, loving mother of Jodie Montgomery (Rich), Amy Johns (Scott), Tom Dixon (Debbie), James Dixon (Alethea), Gail Dixon-Matauli-Pa’aa (Vao), and Lilly Dixon (Demir). She passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on April 2, 2019.
“Nana” to twelve grandchildren; “The Big Three” – D. J. Dixon, Sarah and Erin Johns; “The Fabulous Five”– Madeline, Emily and Benjamin Montgomery, Victoria Dixon and T.K. Demir; “The Fantastic Four” –Yasmin Demir, Sheena and Liam Matauli-Pa’aa and Walker Dixon.
Nancy is survived by her sister, Florence Buckingham Knapper of Prince Frederick, MD and preceded in death by her sister, Barbara Wallace of Moultrie, GA.
A Mass of the Resurrection will be held at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on Saturday, April 13, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. Family will receive friends at 10:00 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Sunday Supper at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 2150 Cunningham Dr., Hampton, VA 23666.
The family would like to thank all of Nancy Dixon’s friends and family who continued to support her through prayer, with visits, driving to appointments, meals, chocolate and cards. You will always be a part of her story, where she gave thanksgiving to God for all the grace and blessings in her life.
Things people say about Nancy Dixon:
“She was my lifelong friend.”
“She got me through one of the most difficult times in my life. I will always be grateful for her and her friendship.”
“I consider her such a blessing to us and our community.”
“She makes a party out of everything!”
“I would consider it a blessing to be with her at the end. She has always been there for me.”
“I pray her transition was peaceful. I will always cherish her friendship and miss her dearly.”
“So glad you all were with her as she made her journey home. She was a wonderful friend and we will miss her so much. She was a special lady who inspired so many people. I was truly blessed to have had her for a friend.”
“She made the best peanut butter sandwiches.”
