Joe Edward Dixon Jr.

Joe Edward Dixon, Jr., passed away on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at the age of 75. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Ruth Dixon; his brother Bryan Dixon; and his daughter, Eleanor Dixon. He is survived by his daughters, Erin Dixon and Emily Carroll; son-in-law, Jack Carrol;, and grandchildren, Gabriel, Tristan, and Harper Carroll; as well as his brother, Scott Dixon; stepsister and brother-in-law, Becky and Randy Mathis; and many cousins.
Joe was born on July 21, 1949, in Nashville, Tennessee. During a time when so many people were moving to Nashville not just from all over the country but from all parts of the world, he was fiercely proud of the fact that he was born and raised right here in Nashville, with deep family roots in this area. He was a proud graduate of Montgomery Bell Academy and Vanderbilt University and worked as a CPA in the revenue department of the state of Tennessee for many years. Nashville was home, and it was in his blood.
Throughout his life, Joe's faith was an inextricable part of his identity. He had a strong, unwavering faith that anchored him even in the face of the most challenging circumstances. It's this faith that he clung to when struggling through the loss of his beloved daughter Eleanor. And it's his friends at the Brentwood Hills Church of Christ that became a true second family to him, carrying him through that loss as well as many other highs and lows throughout the years. You could find him at church every Sunday and Wednesday whenever he was able. He especially enjoyed getting to eat dinner and talk with various friends at church on Wednesdays before class. He had a tight-knit group of friends from class who would often get together for trivia or game nights or a Sunday evening devotional and dinner in someone's home. Participating in these activities with this special group of people was an important part of his life. His church family was so integral to who he was, and he was known and loved by many.
Whether in his appearance, home, car, or any other aspect of life, Joe was meticulous and insisted on being neat and organized. He had a big personality and made friends wherever he went. If you dared call him "Mr. Dixon," you would be soundly rebuked - he was just "Joe" and wanted to be on a first-name basis with everyone, whether it be a long-time friend from church or the waitress he just met at a restaurant. He was never reticent in meeting new people and would confidently approach anyone new with a warm "Hi, I'm Joe."
Joe had a lifelong love of learning and a curiosity to see and know more about the world. He was an avid history buff and had an uncanny memory for all manner of dates, names, and places of historical significance. He also enjoyed reading, watching movies, and following politics. He was a people person through-and-through and relished having community. His friends were an indispensable part of his life, and he would regularly meet with up with several of them for weekly lunches. From an early age, Joe excelled in the art of written correspondence, often writing letters to grandparents in particular. Later on, he never failed to send cards to family and friends for every occasion. He loved keeping in touch with people and would text if he had to, but he would have much rather talked on the phone, or better yet, had a conversation in person.
Perhaps more than anything, Joe was an immensely proud father and grandfather. His love for his daughters and grandchildren was evident to all, and he would regale anyone willing to listen with endless talk about them. He would travel out to Texas and Oklahoma to visit whenever he could, always wishing to be able to go more often, especially as traveling became more difficult for him. However long he and his girls had together, it was never enough as far as he was concerned.
Aside from his kids and grandkids, Joe's love for all his family ran deep. He was an emotional person ("I'm too emotional for my own good," he would often say) and would often get choked up recalling memories of the many family members he lost far too soon. What a joy it is thinking about him reunited with all of them now. Joe would always say, "Hope to see you soon," with the caveat "under happy circumstances!" And while these circumstances are decidedly not happy for those he leaves behind, he is getting to enjoy a reunion like none other now, under the happiest circumstances of all.
Funeral services will be conducted by Walt Leaver on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. (visitation 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.) at Brentwood Hills Church of Christ, 5120 Franklin Pike, Nashville, TN. Interment Woodlawn Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Jack Carroll, Gabriel Carroll, Jeff Parnell, Larry Johnson, Byron Grate and J. D. Smith.