Sallie Arrington Dixon

ARRINGTON DIXON

June 20, 1910 - August 18, 2004

Sallie Arrington Dixon (born Sallie Elizabeth Arrington), the mother of former Washington, DC City Council Chairman and current DC Democratic National Committeeman, Arrington Dixon, died peacefully in her sleep on the morning of August 18, 2004 with her son at her bedside at the Martha Jefferson Hospital in Charlottesville, Virginia. Mrs. Dixon, who expired after a brief illness, was 94 years old.

Mrs. Dixon, who first arrived in Washington at the age of five, had been a longtime resident of the District before returning to her childhood home of Radiant, Virginia in Madison County in the early seventies. She raised her sons, Arrington Liggins Dixon and the late James Walter Dixon in Washington and remained there well into Arrington Dixon's adult life to play an active role in the lives of her granddaughters, Aimee and Drew. Her initial arrival in Washington had been prompted by her parents, Annie F. Taliaferro Arrington and James Allen Arrington, in an effort to facilitate access for their daughter to educational opportunities greater than the limited choices that she and her siblings faced in their Virginia home as a result of the now notorious separate but unequal school system of the time.

An eternally adventurous spirit, Sallie left Madison County again at the age of fourteen to follow the lead of her four older brothers and one older sister in a quest to find employment opportunities elsewhere. Accompanied by childhood friend, Ida Carpenter, Sallie arrived in New York City and lived briefly with her older brother, James ("Mannie") in White Plains, New York and sought guidance from her uncle, Don Taliaferro. Within a few short months, Scarsdale residents, George and Blanche Bernheisel, were taken by Sallie's incredible courage and her beautiful spirit and offered her a position as the nanny to their children, Joanne and Peg and later, Barbara (whom Sallie lovingly named "Bunn" upon her birth). The Bernheisels quickly became a part of Sallie's extended family; they have since remained a positive force in her life, occupying a special place in her heart undiminished by the years. Indeed, Mrs. Dixon had planned to make an ambitious trip to visit the Bernheisels at their Mullet Lake summer cottages, less than two weeks before she passed. Had it not been for her failing health, she would have made the trip to return the favor to her dear friends, who had visited her at her home in Virginia this spring.

Her charisma and energy were infectiously warm and inviting to the end. The many friends and family members who called on her over the years will recall her usual greeting, a cheerful "Hello, my darling"! This kind and welcoming expression was emblematic of the generous spirit for which she is so well loved and which will be deeply missed by the many who counted her as a mother and a friend.

Sallie Dixon's kind spirit was manifest in her active community leadership. Both formally and informally, she played a major role as a nurturing figure in the lives of many children in the Anacostia neighborhood of Southeast Washington, DC, where she and her husband, the late James Washington Dixon, raised their sons. For over 10 years Sallie worked as a caregiver at her church's, Bethlehem Baptist Church, day care. She later worked as a healthcare supervisor at the Eastern Star Home from which she retired in the early 70's. In 1980, the Shiloh Baptist Church on 9th Street, NW presented her with a Humanitarian Award in recognition of her service and devotion. Many of Sallie's "children" were present at the ceremony. More recently, she served as Vice Chairperson of the Madison County Democratic Party and worked in vigorous support of local candidates including Virginia Governors Doug Wilder and Chuck Robb.

A truly nurturing mother, grandmother and friend, Sallie cherished above all else, the time that she spent with her family and close friends celebrating milestones in the lives of her loved ones and sharing the company of those close to her in her Radiant, Virginia home.

Sallie was preceded in death by her son, U.S. Air Force 1st Lieutenant James Walter Dixon, who was killed at the age of 23 in an airplane accident while on active duty in the Philippines. Her son's passing was described in The Washington Post as "The American dream turned to a nightmare". James Dixon had shown great promise as a graduate of Penn State and as the first person of color to attain the rank of colonel in its Air Force unit. Mrs. Dixon was also predeceased after forty-four years of marriage in 1979 by her beloved husband, James Washington Dixon ("Jimmy"), a retired Standard Oil employee and, to those who knew him well, an accomplished semi-professional golfer.

A recent family publication traces Sallie's lineage to Alexander Spotswood, Royal Lieutenant Governor and Commander-In-Chief of the Colony of Virginia (1710-1722). Governor Spotswood was the great-great-great-grandfather of Sallie's maternal grandfather, Fitzhugh Taliaferro. Sallie's mother, Annie Taliaferro, was the oldest of eleven children born to Fitzhugh Taliaferro and Delia Ann Tibbs. Throughout her life, Sallie Dixon spoke fondly of the love and devotion bestowed upon her by her grandfather, Fitzhugh Taliaferro (to whom she referred as "Grandpa Chew") and his only son, Dr. Robert Lee Taliaferro, her mother, Annie Taliaferro's half brother.

Mrs. Dixon is survived by her beloved son, Arrington Liggins Dixon; her former daughter-in-law, the former Mayor of Washington, DC, Sharon Pratt; her grandchildren, Aimee Arrington Dixon, Drew Dixon Williams and (by marriage) Wesley Hastie ("Bo") Williams; by her sisters, Helen Westerfield, Bessie Arrington and Thelma Carpenter; several nieces and nephews, dear friend and caregiver, Juanita White and by her cadre of "children" from Anacostia (known affectionately as "The Gang"). She also looked forward to the birth of a great-grand- daughter at the end of this summer.

In accordance with her expressed wishes, Mrs. Dixon was interred at the family plot in Madison, Virginia on August 19, 2004 and a memorial service will take place next year.

We thank you for your kind wishes and ask that you refrain from sending flowers and instead, send contributions in the name of Sallie Arrington Dixon to the American Cancer Society.