Murray L. Dixon, 77, native of Oxford passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, March 8, 2020.  He was born on May 4, 1942, to the late Casey James “Buster” Dixon, Sr. and Queenie Blakely Dixon. He accepted Christ at a young age and was the Chairman of the Deacons, a former usher, and Sunday school teacher at East St. Peter MB Church.

Visitation will be held Thursday, March 12, 2020, from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. at L. Hodges Funeral Service, 38-F Highway 334, Oxford, MS 38655. Homegoing services will be held at the Tallahatchie-Oxford Missionary Baptist Association Building, 20 Highway 334, Oxford, MS on Friday, March 13, 2020, at 2 p.m. Dr. Rickey Scott, Sr. will be the officiating minister. Interment will follow at East St. Peter Cemetery, 274 County Road 215, Abbeville, MS 38601.

Murray graduated from Oxford Training School in 1961 and continued his studies at Mississippi Valley State University until graduation in 1965. He received his Master of Natural Science at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in 1974 and finished additional studies at The University of Mississippi from 1976-1986.  He excelled in academics and was a lover of all sports. He was inducted into the Mississippi Valley State University Hall of Fame in 2012. Murray was an active member of the Mississippi Valley State Alumni Board, a founding member of the Men’s Civic Club, and the Mississippi Association of Coaches.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Emma Willingham Dixon; father, Casey Dixon, Sr.; and three brothers, Bobby Gene, Casey, Jr., and Benny Ray Dixon.  Left to cherish his memories and continue his legacy are his children; Thomas (Angenette) Dixon, of Flowood, Miss., Dr. Talisa Dixon, of Columbus, Ohio, Tansy Dixon, of Lawrenceville, Ga., and Timothy (Sakia) Dixon, of Wetumpka, Ala.; granddaughters,  Zoe Williams and Kaiya Dixon; mother, Queenie Dixon; sisters, Fannie Evans, Mae Ruth Dixon, and Sarah Dixon Pegues, of Oxford, Dorothy Dixon, of Greenwood, Miss., Christine (Calvin) Fox, of Charlotte, N.C., and Carolyn Dixon, of Memphis, Tenn.; one aunt, Aileen Sims, of Grand Rapids, Mich.; one uncle, Horace “Ray” Dixon, of Bartlesville, Okla.; six sisters-in-laws, Shirley Willingham Booker, Minnie Lee Shack,  Alice Carter, of Memphis, Tenn., Maudean Willingham, Reba Willingham, and Fannie Willingham, of Oxford; brother-in-law, Edward Willingham; close friends, Clyde Goolsby, Willie Frank Goolsby, and William “Doug” Young, all of Oxford; a special neighbor, Allie B. Shaw, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, you may donate to the Murray and Emma Willingham Dixon Memorial Scholarship Fund at First National Bank.