John Alan “Snake” Dixon, 61, of Fitzgerald, died Tuesday, June 5, 2012, at Dorminy Medical Center.
Funeral services will be held 11 A.M., Friday, June 8, 2012 at the First Baptist Church of Fitzgerald with the Rev. Dr. Mike Ruffin officiating. Dr. Sammie Dixon and Jerry Dixon will deliver eulogies. Interment will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7-9 Thursday evening at the funeral home.
Mr. Dixon was born December 4, 1950 in Fitzgerald, to the late Clyde Samuel and Lucile Daniels Dixon. He was a lifelong resident of Ben Hill County. He was a 1969 graduate of Fitzgerald High School where he played football for the Purple Hurricanes under Coach Joe Compton and Coach Jesse Dyess and held the state record for high hurdles for many years. Mr. Dixon was a 1974 graduate of Harding College (Now Harding University) where he played football for the Harding Bisons. Snake set many records at Harding, some that he still holds today, and is a member of the Harding University Hall of Fame. He started in all 41 games during his college career, including one bowl game. In his junior year, he led the nation’s small colleges in rushing and scoring. Following graduation, he was drafted as a running back for the Minnesota Vikings and started in his first game, a pre-season game against the Denver Broncos. The Vikings won the NFC title that year. After an injury cut his Vikings career short, he was selected for a new expansion team, the Seattle Seahawks.
Mr. Dixon was a broker for Roanoke Realty, where he and his mentor and father-in-law, the late David Y. Sims, worked together for many years. He also co-owned Dixon Appraisers with his son, Jad. Mr. Dixon was a long-time member of the Ben Hill County Board of Assessors, long-time member, past-president, and currently President-elect of the Fitzgerald Kiwanis Club, and a member of the Tift Area Board of Realtors. He was a Life Member of the Million Dollar Sales Club and was a Certified Real Estate Appraiser. He was a member of First Baptist Church and the Sportsmen Sunday school class. Snake was an avid supporter of all things Purple Hurricane, having served as past president of the football booster club and as a member of the Goldleaf Officials' Association. Snake found humor in life and always displayed a positive attitude.
He is survived by his wife: Belinda Sims Dixon of Fitzgerald, with whom he would have celebrated 40 years of marriage on June 9th; son: Jad Dixon of Fitzgerald, daughters and sons-in-law: Andee & Hal Carter of Cordele and Ashlee & Kevin Maddrey of Asheville, North Carolina; grandchildren: Millee Carter, Mollee Carter, and Claire S. Carter; sister: Sandra Dixon Paulk of Ocilla; brothers: Dr. Sammie & Latrell Dixon of Tifton and Jerry and Barbara Dixon of Fitzgerald; sisters-in-law: Susan & Shep Dunn and Donna Wilson, all of Fitzgerald; father-in-law: H.C. Barber as well as numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister-in-law: Jacquie Dixon; brothers-in-law: James Wilson and Ira Paulk; and mother-in-law: Ruby S. Barber.
The family suggests those desiring to send memorials may send them to the Sportsmen Sunday School Class, c/o Bill Bryant, 106 Kennesaw Court, Fitzgerald, GA 31750