Nancy Ann Dixon

Nancy Ann Head Dixon died peacefully on August 2, 2025 at Carolina Meadows Retirement Community in Chapel Hill, NC. When she fell ill, she expressed that she felt so lethargic that she “wasn’t worth 2 cents”, but to her family and friends Nancy was priceless. 

She was born on August 12, 1932, in Caroleen, NC, oldest daughter of George Alexander and Emma Ruth Beaty Head. She grew up in Matthews, NC, graduated from the Women’s College of the University of North Carolina with a BA in education, and in 1954 married Edwin Harrison Dixon, Jr. 

Nancy was a teacher for many years; she especially loved teaching fourth graders who she said were smart, engaged and loved to learn. She received her MA in education from East Carolina University. She taught in Atlanta, Greenville NC, San Francisco, and Pinellas County FL. Summers away from the classroom were spent with happy days on the beach with her family at Topsail Island. 

Nancy and Ed moved several times and made many friends in each location. A post retirement adventure took them to Tashkent, Uzbekistan for two years. They moved back to North Carolina, settling in Chapel Hill in 1998 where they built a community of loved friends, particularly in the Carolina Meadows community, and treasured their retirement years. In Chapel Hill, she was an active member of University United Methodist Church for many years and the Friends of the Chapel Hill Library where she was involved with the “Books Sandwiched In” book group. Wherever she lived, she was involved with books, libraries and literacy. 

Nancy cherished her family and friends and was extraordinarily loving and generous. Visitors to her home were always enthusiastically welcomed and immediately offered “something to drink or eat”. She had a sharp mind and a subtle wit that was sometimes betrayed by a little wink and a smile, and she loved her crosswords and other word puzzles. 

Nancy is preceded in death by her husband, Ed, her brother, Max Alexander Head, and her daughter-in-law, Tanya Reph Dixon. She is survived by her three children, Edwin of Middleburg, FL, Michael of Carrboro, NC and Rebecca Morley (and her husband Andrew) of Boulder, CO, grandsons Thomas Morley (and his partner Mary Frigo) of Portland, OR, Tyler Morley (and his wife Inbal Hirschman) of Los Angeles, CA, Cameron Morley of Boulder, CO and Brian Martinez (and his wife Tamy Martinez), her sister, Carolyn Ritchie, and her brother, Mickey Head, as well as loved nieces and nephews. 

In lieu of flowers, please read a book with a young friend, cherish a dogwood blooming in the spring or put your feet in the sand of a North Carolina beach. Donations may be made to UUMC Music Program, PO Box 1728, Chapel Hill, NC 27514 or to the Carolina Meadows Foundation, Inc. Remembrance and Gift Fund, 100 Whippoorwill Ln, Chapel Hill, NC 27517.