William Still Dixon

Dixon, William Still

November 28, 1995 - March 10, 2023

Will was born November 28, 1995 in Plano, Texas to Kelly Still and Drew Matthew Dixon. After the family's relocation to Winston-Salem in 2001, Will attended local public schools, Calvary Day School and graduated in 2013 from the high school program at UNC School of the Arts where he studied cello performance and music composition. Will confessed his faith in Christ as a child and was a long-time member of First Presbyterian Church, Winston-Salem, where he later confirmed his beliefs and claimed the grace offered by Christ through the vows made by his parents at his baptism.

Will did his undergraduate work at UNC Chapel Hill, studying English literature with a focus on British modernist authors. He spent his junior year abroad in Scotland at the University of St. Andrews. Will was fascinated by the works of Virginia Woolf; his senior honors thesis explored spatial, architectural and narrative theories in Woolf's novel, Jacob's Room. He graduated with highest honors from UNC in May, 2018. Following several months of travel in Europe, Will earned a Masters in Philosophy degree from Cambridge University in July, 2019. In his dissertation, he again explored the concepts of space, architecture and the narrative constructs within the major works of William Faulkner. Will lived in New York since early 2021 and worked as an executive assistant.

In addition to his parents, Will is survived by his big brother, Brant Dixon and his little brothers, Jay Dixon and his wife, Meta Katherine, and Ty Dixon. Will adored his cousin Sophie Yarwood, as well as his aunt and uncle, Kari and Jim Yarwood. He had such special love for his grandmother, Lucy Anne "Ginger" Still. Also surviving is his close cousin, Stephanie Maurer Heideman and her family, his aunt and uncle, Juliana and Kyle Dixon, and their adult children, Olivia and Tim. Will was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Susan and James Dixon and his maternal grandfather, William Carl Still, for whom he was named.

Will treasured many lifelong friends from childhood and high school while also forging new and strong friendships throughout college and graduate school. He was laugh-out-loud funny and more than a little bit reckless. He was an intensely curious and voracious learner which led him to explore the world fully. Will saw God everywhere around him-in art, architecture and nature- and felt His divine presence through music and in literature. Will was driven to write beautiful songs and stories, painting images on paper, giving others a glimpse of how he deeply experienced life.

A service of remembrance celebrating Will's life will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 16, 2023 at First Presbyterian Church, 300 North Cherry Street, Winston-Salem, NC.

Memorial gifts may be made to the UNCSA School of Music-William Still Dixon Memorial Gift Fund, 1533 South Main Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27127 https://uncsa.thankyou4caring.org/william-still-dixon-memorial-gifts