She held on, and she fought so hard at the end. She wanted to stay with us on Earth, but knew it was time. See, it was around people that she loved, where she got the most happiness. So her legacy she leaves behind, is that of love.

In her words, one of her favorite songs by Doris Day ~  
Que sera, sera
Whatever will be, will be
The future's not ours to see
Que sera, sera
What will be, will be
Que sera, sera

For many in the Silent Generation it was tough to be bright, living in a world that may have seemed so dark. Grandma was the light in the dark. 

Grandma lived a long, full life - and from standing on the sidelines, I'm sure we will all walk away with different life lessons.
For me, here's what she taught me... be yourself, enjoy the journey, and love... then even you can prove Time Magazine wrong.

"Cautious" ... is another word I wouldn't say when describing grandma. She was Irish. She was a fighter. She stood her ground like no other. She defended me (and others in here) like a rock. She was like an accomplice when I needed one... specifically with my boyfriends. Some of the stories we will take to the grave. She was the pep talk, and would support you, and encourage you, in any way she could. We would say ~ if they are going to talk about you anyways, let's give them something to talk about. Grandma never liked to see anyone she cared about sad.
Grandma and I had a special bond, as many of you did with her. It seems that grandparents are able to deal with grandkids a bit differently than a parent. I understand now. It's their second rodeo and they know how to ride. I always told her I was never having kids. So sure I wasn't, I promised her that if I did, I would name it after her. Well, Grandma Dixie, won the bet. My son, Landyn Dixon, is everything she wanted me to experience.
She was persistent when she wanted something, and held on in every way. She wouldn't let go. This held true to her dying days. I believe in the afterlife and that your spirit lives on. It brings me peace. I believe she is here, and has given us signs she always will be. She cares too much to leave for good. Writing is a form of therapy and as grandma went on her last trip around the sun, I found myself writing some of this already months ago. After she passed I recently went to Savannah. Unsure of the timing of my trip, she let me know she was still there with a red rose needlepoint in my Air B&B, and with a response on the carpet that blew me away. You see, I wrote bits of this knowing I would speak here today. When I asked someone, "What do you want your legacy to be?"... his response was verbatim what I had written here months ago for my grandma... and at that point, I knew that was her, and she was happy.

I wanted to make sure this got on here. Some great memories with Grandma. I will leave this in parts.

Grandma was born in 1936. This is known as the Silent Generation. Children born in the silent generation experienced the Great Depression and World War 2. Time Magazine wrote an article where people of the Silent Generation were described as "unimaginative, withdrawn, unadventurous, and cautious". We knew her, and so when I say she left her imprint wherever she went, enjoyed testing the waters, and is so memorable to so many ~ it's because she was nothing like most of her generation. Grandma stood out.
Everyone in this room has gotten the joy of experiencing different versions of Grandma Dixie throughout the years. I appreciate you for letting me share mine.
"Unimaginative" is so far from her extraordinary creative mind. She was such an amazing seamstress and created pieces that would turn heads. In my younger years, when designing outfits, she helped take the sketches from a notepad to creation, collecting so many compliments and wowing people with her original pieces. Grandma always had an eye for fashion.... "Unimaginative"... they obviously didn't know Grandma or ever see her Christmas windows.
"Withdrawn, unadventurous"...  again, those were never words I would use to describe grandma, far from it. Anyone that knew my grandma, always knew she was the biggest kid in the room. She was wildly inappropriate at times but with the best intentions. She would do whatever it took to make someone laugh. She would pinch your butt with her long fingernails, when in public. If there was a prank to play, she was all in. "Whistling Dixie" (I named her after a firework) loved to make you laugh, because she cared deeply about who she loved, and wanted to make sure you were smiling.

We have such fond memories of Dixie and BJ working with us at many, many events primarily at the concessions to raise funds for our kids competing in Trampoline and Tumbling.  How many thousands of cups of lemonade did we all make and sell?  How many pretzels, cotton candy, grill items?  This occurred most often during the hot and steamy weather, yet there is Dixie with her updo hair still perfectly intact and barely a drop of sweat on her?  We used to marvel at her and say she looks as fresh at the end of the day as she did at the beginning!!!  How is that possible??  Then there were her “witty” remarks that she always said with a smile but yet sometimes, they were a little mischievous!  Those words that she chose were words of wisdom not random negative statements but always presented in an upbeat story like manner.  Throughout all that, we knew there was a grandma there that cared about everyone and everything.  I know my kids looked at her as a sweet, kind and compassionate person.  We pray that she is now adorned in God’s loving light and we will always remember what an honor it was to be even just a small part of her life.  Lovingly, Bruce, Kyle and Jenna

AVIS DE DÉCÈS

Dixie Lee Napier

24 juin 1936 – 17 octobre 2024

Woodlawn Funeral Home & Memorial Park

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