Rev. Fred Dixon, Sr.

Fred Dixon was born to the union of Tom and Susie Dixon on May 21, 1935 in Starkville, Mississippi. He was the ninth of eleven children, affectionately called “Man” which was pronounced MANE. His large family was enveloped by love, cultured by their parents’ ambition to raise them in the fear of God. Born to a sharecropper, he and his siblings learned the importance of hard work, and the value of it was not a waisted commodity, serving to instill a work ethic that would later benefit his own family. Fred’s parents encountered difficulty, dictating the need for them to leave Starkville, Mississippi in search of better opportunities. They would eventually move their family to East St Louis, Illinois. This is where Fred began to assert himself as a young man, working and striving to start a life for himself. It is at this time; he would notice a beautiful young lady while cruising with a friend. He stated, “She’s so beautiful, I would marry her tonight.” His persistent nature, a bi-product from the mundane work of farming, worked in his favor. The very next time he saw this young lady, he did not waist time at revealing his intentions in regard to her. Fred and Elleanor Belle Fenderson became one through the bonds of marriage on April 17, 1960, and to their union was added four children. They enjoyed a wonderful love affair with each other until separated by death March 8, 2017. Fred loved learning and was a good student but was unable to complete his schooling while living in the south because of an overwhelming need to support the family. Later on, in life when time permitted, Fred would pick-up where he left off, accomplishing his high school equivalency and going on to attend Grace Bible College of Omaha, NE also studying under the mentorship of Reverend Dr. J. Andrew Thomas. He worked very hard at attaining a better life; while supporting his wife who was also in school and taking care of his family by working multiple jobs. All of the Dixon children can recall riding with Mom to pick Dad up from one full-time job and drop him at a second full-time job. He was adamant about providing for his family and could be quoted saying, “If my children don’t eat, it is because they didn’t want to.” In most things he did, he was calm and gentle in his demeanor but there was something that could get him excited very quickly, which was his love for God and God’s Word. His fervor for God and the Word was strongly supported, encouraged and echoed by his loving wife Elleanor as well as founded in the personal experiences coming up in a home where God’s Spirt was present. He would eventually accept the call of God into service as a Minister of the Gospel in 1968 and in April of 1973, he was ordained an elder in the Church of God in Christ under the leadership of Pastor Vernon Richardson, where he worked tirelessly at teaching, preaching and helping God’s people wherever, even across denominational walls. In May of 1980, he would be called and ordained to pastor the Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church of Omaha, NE; there he would work and love on the people through his love for God and the ministry. He would often be heard saying, “It’s good to do good.” He would later be led by God to organize and in 1993, True Vine Missionary Baptist Church would exist to do the work of discipleship within the framework of the Apostolic work of Jesus Christ, carrying out the mission of loving and leading the halt and hurting to the only place where healing can be accomplished. We can say, he has poured it all out, finishing the work as God would have it, touching many lives without any desire for fame and recognition. Pastor Fred Dixon Sr was proceeded in death by his loving wife Elleanor B, his parents Tom and Susie, his brothers; Willie, Tom, Albert, Aurthur L and Jimmy Lee, his sisters; Gertrude Gatson, Emma Lou King, Lucy Jordan, and Elizabeth Philip. He leaves to cherish his loving memory, his sister Susie Taylor of East St. Louis, IL, his daughters Sybil R, Jacqueline Washington , Amanda Houston , his son Rev. Fred Dixon Jr . His grandsons; Archie R. Oliver Jr , Christopher J. Oliver , Malcolm A. McGruder, Matthew McGruder, Solomon I. Washington, Riley E. Dixon, Thomas I. Dixon and Fred J. Dixon, granddaughters; Makaila R. McGruder, Chelsea R. Oliver and Jasmine Ashley , great grand-children; Malachi, Micah and Matthias Oliver, Keenan Jr and Jayleece Ashley; special niece/daughter Leslie Dixon-Foley of Florrisant MO, God-son Minister Gerald Saunders of Delaware, a host of nephews, nieces, extended family along with many adopted sons and daughters.   3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. - John 14:3 Kjv “And I heard a voice from heaven saying write this down: Blessed are those who die in the Lord from now on. ” Yes, says the spirit they are blessed indeed, for they will rest from their hard work; for their good deeds follow them!” Revelation 14:13 Kjv Public viewing Wednesday, August 19th from 12-6 pm Roeder Mortuary 4932 Ames Avenue, Thursday August 20th 9 am viewing 10 am Home Going Celebration, Morning Star Baptist Church 2019 Burdette Street.  Interment: Mt Hope Cemetery.