Margaret S. Dixon

Margaret S. Dixon, 81, of Granite Falls, North Carolina went home to be with her Good Lord on Monday, June 15, 2026.

Margaret was born on November 11, 1944 in Weeksville, NC to the late Julian and Dorothy Saunders. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her two older brothers, Wesley and William (Bill) Saunders and a son-in-law Ray Baker. Survivors include her children, Karen I. Jones (Dalton) of Granite Falls; Patty I. Baker of Granite Falls; David W. Icard (Brandy) of Hickory; a stepdaughter Patty D. Selby (Daniel), of Washington, North Carolina; two grandsons; Jerry (Megan) and Robert Jones; one great-grandson; Nathan, her baby brother Jerrell Saunders (Christy) of Dunn, NC; four sister-in-laws, Altha Newton of Icard, Janet Stacey of Connelly Springs, Penny Icard of Hickory and Diane Saunders of Hertford and two young ladies Deliliah Branch, of Granite Falls and Lulu Stephens, of Hickory who were as close to her heart as if they had been the granddaughters she never had and please let us not forget her beloved cat, Malachi.

Margaret was a momma. She loved her three children deeply and would sacrifice whatever she had to provide them with whatever they needed. It may not have always been exactly what they wanted but they had everything they could possibly need. But most of all they were loved. Not only was she momma to her three children, but she was often momma to their friends. Taking many into her home to stay long periods of time when they struggled in their own lives. Later in life when her children were grown she was still momma to all of their friends. Those friends' hearts are just as broken today as if she were their momma.

To be able to provide the best she could for her children and insure she was there for them as much as possible she began keeping children in her home in 1979. Her intention was to provide her son playmates when his older sisters went off to school. This began her life long ministry of loving on other people's children as if they were her own. She retired from childcare with the Ding Dong School in Elizabeth City, NC in 2015.

In the early 1980’s wanting to provide for her daughter she took on being the leader of Girl Scout troop 264 in Washington. Again being a momma to 12 to 14 girls for years. In her later years she stayed in contact with many of these young ladies calling them her “Little Girl Scouts”. She was so proud of them and all of their accomplishments in life. This endeavor also led her to four mothers who she would describe as her best friends: Sylivia Gilbert, Lynda Alligood, Gayle Styons and Bunny Brothers. The funny stories their daughters could tell of these ladies' adventures in camping, hiking, touring new places and stealing tandem bicycles with flat tires to go look for her oldest daughter who had gone out and about in the camp ground with ... a boy. We can just imagine what all of these ladies are going to be doing in heaven as they are now all reunited.

In the early 1990’s she along with Mrs. Gayle would transform from Girl Scout mom’s to band mom’s for the Washington High School Band. They loved traveling and supporting the band across the state for competitions. She loved that tuba player the most though. His sisters often referred to him as the “Prince” and just as often he would announce he was her favorite.

As her own babies grew up and moved out and away she continued to be momma to all those who came to her at Ms. Nancy’s Daycare, First Baptist Church Daycare, Ms. Rosa’s and finally the Ding Dong School. Hundreds of littles to love on, teach and momma. But retirement did not keep her from being a momma. She followed along and saw a need in her daughter's classroom to come read to and with little first graders at Viewmont Elementary and Southwest Primary. Later following her oldest to Longview Church of God where she completed her ministry of mommaing other peoples children thinking the sun rose and set in LuLu, Deliliah and Ivie Jean who she would brag to her daughter she was winning the “I held Ivie today” competition.

“God’s been so good to me” is what her pastor remembers her testifying. She loved her “Good Lord” as her son loved to hear her say. Her family walks in the comfort of knowing she is at home with her Savior and His Father in heaven. Her job as momma is complete and today she worships the father as his beloved daughter.

The family is honored to be served by Chandler Rosenbalm, Jim Jones, Scott Wolfe, Clint Hoyle, David Weaver, and Thomas Osborne as honorary pallbearers. A funeral service will be held at Longview Church of God in Longview, NC at 5:00 pm Thursday, June 18, 2026 with her dear and beloved pastor EJ Martin officiating. A graveside service at West Lawn Cemetery in Elizabeth City, NC will follow on Friday, June 19 at 3:30pm.

In lieu of flowers the family kindly asks that memorial contributions be made to the Longview Church of God children’s ministry.

Please sign the online guestbook on the Memorial Wall at www.jenkinsfuneralhome.net. The Dixon family has entrusted arrangements to Jenkins Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Newton 828-464-1555.