A life devoted to others
Born May 23, 1876, in Camden, New Jersey, Alice Wilmore Dixon trained as an educator at Borden, New Jersey College. In 1908 she moved to Delaware, teaching in Kenton, Blackiston’s Cross Roads, and Blanco.
Former student William J. Ward Sr. remembered her traveling by horse and buggy, with a horse named Fountaine. Her care reached beyond the classroom: she helped children who needed meals or clothing and offered support to people others might overlook. Her belief was simple: “Nobody is bad.”
Family, faith, and mission
On June 8, 1910, Alice Wilmore married Rev. Phillip Dixon of the Delaware Conference in Camden, New Jersey. Bishop Ramsey of Philadelphia performed the ceremony. Their family included Toussaint, Thelma, and two foster sons.
She continued her missionary work as a minister’s wife. In 1935, Rev. and Mrs. Dixon were assigned to the Mount Olive charge in Kenton and Lockwood. She encouraged an active Missionary Society and worked persistently with both young people and adults.
Her legacy at Emmanuel
The society remembers Alice Dixon as a pioneering missionary whose energy and concern for others continue to inspire Emmanuel. Its remembrance, “Alice W. Dixon Motivates Us at Emmanuel,” carries that commitment forward.
Remembering the society’s leaders
The church’s historical list recognizes these past presidents:
- Alice W. Dixon (1935)
- Ethel Little (Kenton)
- Bermuda S. Ward (Kenton)
- Elsie Fountain (Lockwood, after the merger)
- Gladys Griffin
- Rev. Grace D. Fountain
- Rev. Shirley M. Smith
- Bertha G. Freeman
- Barbara Bryan
The original remembrance also honors Sarah Allen (1764–1849).
AME Church Women’s Missionary Society