Bill Text: VA SJR510 | 2011 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Celebrating the life of Helen Fowlkes Dixon.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2011-03-07 - Senate: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ510ER) [SJR510 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2011-SJR510-Enrolled.html
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WHEREAS, Helen Fowlkes Dixon, a pioneering educator and founder of The Steward School in Richmond, died on December 20, 2010; and WHEREAS, a native of Mobile, Alabama, Helen Dixon graduated from Murphy High School in 1935 and was the proud Queen of the Mobile Mardi Gras in 1938; and WHEREAS, after relocating to Richmond, Helen Dixon opened a nursery school fondly known as Miz Dixon's School at 6619 Monument Avenue, where local children received individualized attention in a caring and positive atmosphere; and WHEREAS, under the wise leadership of Helen Dixon, Miz Dixon's School enjoyed great success, growing to 130 students and evolving into a preschool, daycare, and summer camp by the time she relocated the facility to Townes Road; and WHEREAS, in 1972, Helen Dixon founded The Steward School with the mission of fostering stewardship and providing individualized instruction in a small-classroom setting to enable students to develop the character, knowledge, and skills to succeed in college and life; and WHEREAS, The Steward School has grown from its first class of six girls in the basement of a local church to 600 students from junior kindergarten to twelfth grade at its Gayton Road campus, while providing small classes, individual attention, and an array of extracurricular and athletic activities; and WHEREAS, Helen Dixon played an influential role in the growth and development of The Steward School as a member of the board of directors and delighted in presenting the school's highest award, named in her honor, to a graduating senior every year; and WHEREAS, an active member of the community, Helen Dixon was a founding member of the Monument Hills Garden Club, was active in the Tuckahoe Woman's Club, and was a member of Tuckahoe Presbyterian Church, later attending All Saints Reformed Presbyterian Church; and WHEREAS, a vivacious and loving woman, Helen Dixon cherished the time spent with her family at their cottage on the Piankatank River and relished the simple pleasures of life; and WHEREAS, Helen Dixon's visionary leadership and compassionate heart profoundly influenced thousands of students over the course of her long and exemplary educational career; and WHEREAS, predeceased by her husband, Kenneth, Helen Dixon will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by her children, Helen and Mac, and their families, including three grandchildren, John, Helen, and Beth, and her numerous other family members, friends, and former students; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of a beloved educator, Helen Fowlkes Dixon; and, be it RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Helen Fowlkes Dixon as an expression of the General Assembly's respect for her memory. |
