Mrs. H. A. Dixon Passes

The Jackson Sun Obituary of Mrs. Dixon

Louise Cowan Dixon, HENDERSON

Mary Louise Cowan Dixon, age 100, died Wednesday, November 9, 2005 at Bright Glade Convalescent Center in Memphis. She was born and reared in Jefferson City, Tennessee, the daughter of the late Andrew Walker and Eva Mae Harris Cowan. She attended schools in Jefferson City and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Carson-Newman College with a double major in English and history. She taught in public schools in Hampshire, Tennessee and was married to H. A. Dixon on October 5, 1929.


The Dixons made their home in Memphis, Martin, Springfield, MO, Jackson, TN, Tuscaloosa, AL, Florence, AL, and then in Henderson, TN for fifty years (1950-2000). Brother Dixon served as minister for the churches of Christ in those cities. The past few years she has lived in Jackson and Memphis.

Mrs. Dixon was "First Lady" of Freed-Hardeman College (University) from 1950 to 1969. Her husband served as President of the University until his death in 1969. Mrs. Dixon was instrumental, along with others, in founding the FHU Associates, a ladies' group that raises funds for student scholarships at the university. She was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree by Freed-Hardeman University on May 5, 1990.

Mrs. Dixon was a member of the church of Christ since 1934; a member of the Henderson congregation for fifty years and then a member of the North Jackson church. She was a ladies' Bible class teacher, having taught classes for many years in Henderson. She also had taught ladies' classes during the Freed-Hardeman annual Lectureships.

Mrs. Dixon returned to Henderson, May 2005, for a reception in the church building in celebration of her 100th birthday.

Mrs. Dixon, the last of nine children, is survived by a son, Allen Dixon and wife Mary Jo of Memphis; and a daughter, Sara Dixon Sargent and husband Glenn of Mobile, AL. She has seven grandchildren, sixteen great grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild.

Funeral services will be 2:00 PM Sunday at the Henderson Church of Christ with family members Steve Sargent, Tom Dixon, Sid Dye, David Sargent, David James, and Glenn Sargent officiating. Burial will follow in the Henderson City Cemetery. The family will receive friends at Casey Funeral Home from 3:00 PM until 6:00 PM on Saturday, and at noon Sunday at the church building. Memorials may be made to the H. A. and Louise Dixon Scholarship Fund at Freed-Hardeman University, Henderson, Tennessee. Casey Funeral Home Henderson, TN 731-989-2421.

As reported in The Jackson Sun: 11/11/2005

For more information about the Dixons, go to http://www.freed-hardeman.com/HADixon.htm.

--- Tom Childers