Charles Roland Dixon

Chapter One of C. Roland Dixon’s life begin with his arrival at his earthly home April 12,1939. 

Affectionately known as Roland, he was the first child to Rufus and Geraldine Dixon lived with his parents, grandmother “Segar Wilkerson,” and siblings Bernard, Gerald and ”Dine.” Roland was raised in the church, joining Hill Street Baptist Church in 1948 and being baptized that year. Hill Street Baptist Church moved years later to Main Street in Smithfield, under its new street namesake. Here, Roland would teach Sunday School, serve as an usher, and eventually serve as a Deacon for more than 40 years. He was also a member of the Pastoral Search Committee which selected his last pastor, Rev. Dr. James M. Harrison, under God’s guidance and direction. Growing up into manhood, Roland helped out in the family businesses, working at his Uncle Ben Jones’ ice plant and as a server in Uncle Ashland’s and Aunt Dorothy’s Paradise Inn at Wharf Hill. He often told the story of making breakfast, before school, for his teacher Julius Gray, in which Mr. Gray, in return, would give him a ride to school. He learned to make scrambled crab from his Aunt Dorothy. Just like her and his mother, he was a great cook. Roland attended the segregated Isle of Wight Training School in Smithfield. He graduated in 1957 and went on to attend the Norfolk Division of Virginia State College. He was an immensely proud and supportive Norfolk State Spartan, While in School, he was a member of ROTC; he graduated with a degree in education. As an educator and believer in scholarship, Roland’s first teaching job was at Hardy Elementary School. He later moved on to Hampton City Schools, where he worked at Thorpe Jr. High, Y. H. Thomas Jr. High, Lindsey Middle and Hampton High schools. At Thorpe, he coached basketball. At Hampton High School, he was the Coordinator of Industrial Cooperative Training. Notably, his motivational uplift inspired many students to obtain their social security cards and jobs. Roland took advantage of the early retirement program for Hamp-ton City Schools. He would say, “They gave me an offer I couldn’t refuse!” He finished that school year in June of 1991. In September of the same year, he returned as a substitute on the very first day, and “subbed” for eight years.

When Mercury Shoe Repair opened in Hampton, Roland would head to the shop after work. It would become a social hub for the customers from Hampton, Newport News and neighboring communities—with Main Street Baptist Church in Smithfield, serving as the repair shop’s satellite drop-off and pick-up site. When one walked in the doors of the shop, they undoubtedly took a step back in time with a display of relics from the Smithfield Wharf Hill site of the shop’s precursor— Smithfield Shoe Repair Shop. Roland, the master storyteller, would take customers down memory lane with his stories of old.

In the spirit of perseverance, because of his brother Bernard’s inability to run the shop because of health concerns, Roland and his brother Gerald stepped up in his place to operate it. Roland’s stern persona with every customer was an irrefutable hurdle to escape, especially if you didn’t bring your customer ticket when you came to pick up your shoes. Not only were you chastised, but he also challenged your memory and connected family or someone you knew to the past. He shared many of the pictures his photographer brother Bernard, “Moby,” captured with his trusted camera. Family conversations were often used to ease customers’ pain of losing their ticket. The stories about the social livelihood of Smithfield, Wharf Hill, functions and dances at the Elks Hall, the comings and goings of downtown Main Street, Isle of Wight Training School and Westside, Norfolk State, “The Ques,” the importance of education, and politics—all completed your shop experience. His surviving brother Gerald continues the shop’s oral traditions in this same spirit since Roland’s illness and ultimate passing. To this day, people still confuse Roland and Gerald as twins, but Gerald was actually the twin to “Dine”. Through the years, Roland was an Elk, served as secretary for MSBC’s senior living facility Covenant Place and chairperson for the IWT/Westside School Reunion Committee. He was also a member of the esteemed Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated. In 1973, Roland married Paula Davis and the two had one child, Azure Patrice. When Azure lived in Connecticut, he would drive up to get her every summer. He has one grandchild, Skye Veronique. Roland accepted his role as grandpa seriously. Everyone knew about Skye, and he made sure he was present for every ride to and from school. Always happy to share his food with Skye, he knew if he popped open a soda, Skye would come running. He loved to brag and tell everyone about all the events in which Skye participated. He was “the proudest grandpa.” You see, Roland never met a stranger. He would question persons he came in contact with until he made a connection to himself. His uplifting spirit helped his business promotion for Mercury Shoe Repair, eventually asking—“Where do you get your shoes fixed?” By the end of the conversation, people would be laughing, and he would hand them a business card. The deal was sealed.

Family members who preceded Roland in death are his grandmother Segar Wilkerson; mother and father—Rufus and Geraldine Dixon; brother J. Bernard Dixon and sister Geraldine W. Dixon. Surviving are his loving daughter and grandchild, Azure and Skye; brother Gerald and his wife Millie; sister-in -law Barbara Dixon; niece Kimberley D. Driggins and husband Stephen; great nephews Kingsley and Kaiser and a host of cousins. The final chapter of Roland’s story here on earth ends with his departure for his heavenly home on Thursday, June 6, 2024. The sequel to his story is out of this world!

The viewing will take place on Thursday, June 13, 2024 from 3-6pm at the Chapel.  A Celebration of life Service will be held 11am on Friday, June 14, 2024  at Main Street Baptist Church.  Please keep the Dixon family in your thoughts and prayers.