Dixon, Sr., Leon

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Dixon, Sr., Leon

Wed, 01/04/2023 - 21:19
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Leon Dixon, Sr., a veteran of World War II and longtime resident of New Roads, LA., peacefully passed away on December 29, 2022, at 2:00am. His loving and caring family surrounded him. Leon, as he was known to some and Mr. Ninnie, as he was affectionately called by many in the area, was born during World War I in Batchelor, Louisiana on July 27, 1918, to Napoleon and Ida (Green) Dixon, Sr. He enlisted in the United States Army where he served almost three years after being drafted in May 1942. Before that deployment, he desired to enlist in the U. S. Navy, but people of color were not being accepted into that branch of service. At that time of his earlier attempt to get into World War II, he said it was the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941 that changed America’s thinking. Before the attack, Americans were not too concerned about the war. They drafted Leon at the age of 23, where he then went through basic training at Fort Polk in Leesville, Louisiana. From there, his journey took him on to Fort Benning, Georgia, for his infantry training. He wasn’t in the States long before they shipped him to North Africa. It was the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor that hurried things along. He said his military duty then got him from North Africa to Italy, then France and to Germany. He was in Munich (Mule Nike) when the Russians got to Berlin to end the war in Europe. Leon Dixon, Sr., was so proud of his military service to his country. He repeatedly expressed that because he had never been out of Louisiana, he experienced seeing things in other countries and going to places he would have never seen before otherwise. He always stated that it was one of the best experiences he had had. After spending 32 months (about 2 and a half years) in the army, most of them overseas, he ended his tour of duty and returned home with mixed memories of the war, he enjoyed the adventures of his deployment; it saddened him that his unit lost some men, and he admitted it was scary, he added that it was no party. He served under the famous blood and guts General George S. Patton, Jr. who was considered a pioneer in tank warfare and best known for being the most effective American general of World War II. Corporal Dixon led an artillery division as a commander over a five-man search lighting team. He stayed in the army in Europe until after the invasion of Berlin. The war against Japan was all that was left when he got out with a rank of corporal, but after the atomic bomb was dropped on Japan, they surrendered. He got out of the service in 1948. After his return to Louisiana, he went into the logging business for a while and worked for a contractor building the Morganza Spillway, and later spent six years working for Kaiser Aluminum. Dixon Trucking got its start in the late 1960s and is now run by his sons. It was this endeavor that seemed to be one of his greatest accomplishments and gave him a major source of pride. He married the former Sedonia Richard, whom he met after his return from the war. They were married, and together they moved into the house on the day of their marriage, where he still lived until his death on Morningside Street. Sedonia passed away in 1994. He always said that he was going to stay a widower because he did not think he would ever find another woman as good as her. To their glorious union they had nine children, two daughters and seven sons, of whom they were proud and even prouder of what he and Sedonia could do for them. He always disclosed how fortunate he and his wife were because of their ability to give their children what they could not get for themselves, a good education. He spoke of how honored he was that all his children could receive their high school diplomas, and expressed that four of them earned a college degree. Mr. Dixon came from a family that was rooted in faith, determination, pride, and he has continued to root that dignity not only in his children but also in the people with whom he contacted throughout his life. Leon was a man who lived life to the fullest and felt there was no obstacle that could keep him from accomplishing the things that made him a better husband, father, and over-all human being in his community, nothing in life would hold him down. There was always a party going on in his surroundings and he made himself the center of attention, freely giving advice and suggestions, to all who would listen, on how they could improve and make their living conditions better. He would re-live his war experience’s and give details of what occurred during that time. Mr. Ninnie loved to get up and dance with his grandchildren to show them that he still had the moves, and he did. He was an amazing man.Leon is preceded in death by his parents, Napoleon Dixon, Sr. and Ida Greene; his wife, Sedonia Richard Dixon; one son, Bertell Jerome Dixon; one granddaughter, Shanda Colette Powell; one grandson Damien Deshun Dixon. Four sisters, Ida D. Watson, Louise O. Edwards, Elmira D. Smith, and Bessie D. Bridgewater; six brothers, Morris, Napoleon, Edward, Robert, Samuel, and Saul Dixon. He is survived by two daughters, Cheryl Ann (Louis) Powell and Faustine Marie Dixon; six sons, Leon (Joyce) Dixon, Jr., Reverend Marvin Flynn (Ophelia) Dixon, Roger Dale (Debra) Dixon, Daryl Bruce (Andrea) Dixon, Harold Craig (Lynell) Dixon, and Leslie Dewitt (Kemi) Dixon; one sister-in-law, Theresa Thomas; one daughter-inlaw, Elmer Gayle Dixon; one adopted son James “Big Brown” Joseph. He also leaves to cherish his memory his twenty-four (24) grandchildren; thirty-three (33) great-grandchildren; twenty-one (21) great-great grandchildren; nephews, nieces, devoted cousins, a trusted caregiver, long time family friends, and many other loving family members and friends. Leon was a dedicated and faithful member of Mount Mariah Baptist Church in Batchelor, Louisiana, where he served for many years holding various active positions. A public visitation will be on Friday, January 6, 2023, from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. at William Scott Civic Center, False River Park, 1200 Major Parkway, New Roads, Louisiana and on Saturday, January 7, 2023, visitations will start at 12:00 noon until 1:00 p.m., followed by Tributes from 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Services will begin at 2:00 p.m.