This obituary was originally published on Rogers & Breece Funeral Home.
With profound sadness we announce the passing of Veda Annette (Collier) Dixon, 74, who peacefully, went to be with the Lord, in the morning hours of Monday, July 7, 2025. She is gone from this world in body but remains forever in our hearts as she was a bright light who brought peace, warmth and joy to everyone she met.
Annette, the daughter of a Marine, was born in 1951 at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina and spent her formative years in Jacksonville, Florida. She met and fell in love with her husband, Jimmy, in Fayetteville, North Carolina. They were married in 1973 and they shared an unwavering love and devotion to one another. They built a solid life together filled with friends and family. They loved the outdoors and took many fishing trips, hosted gatherings and embarked on building their family. Kind as she was, she never wavered in taking Jimmy’s daughter under her wing and nurturing her through thick and thin and after years of trying to have children together, thinking it may not happen, her “miracle” boys were born; two more lights in their lives that gave them boundless joy. As their family grew with grandchildren, she and Jimmy stayed actively involved in their lives. She developed special bonds with all of them, especially her youngest, precious granddaughter who tickled her pink as a blessing that helped her be courageous, laughing and loving through her difficult illness.
It may seem cliché to say Annette “never met a stranger” but the way she filled a room with happiness and brought smiles to the faces of everyone around her, from a worker in a store who might have been having a bad day, to the family she cherished so deeply, she made people forget their personal woes (if just for a moment) and bridged any divide to spread love and hope.
While Annette’s beloved husband, children and grandchildren were her steadfast focus, she was a mother to all. Compassion, patience, love, honesty and lifting others up were the hallmarks of the life she led.
While many of us believe true angels walk this earth doing God’s work, helping in big and small ways, how often are any of us able to say with certainty the name of an angel we know? Annette was small in stature, soft in voice and touch but her love, compassion, and support of those around her was strong; generating energy and light with a power like the Sun that made people feel loved. She rarely complained of her own challenges and difficulties as she led a life of grace and dignity, serving the Lord by giving this world a generous cup of kindness every day. A quiet but radiant person at work in our lives; we knew for sure she was a true angel.
Annette had a work ethic and focus of solid steel. She was reliable, loyal, honest and hard working without compromise. She worked for decades as a Tumor Registrar. She had the immense energy to pack her days full of purpose by balancing her work life with raising a family.
Annette enjoyed many hobbies like playing piano, sewing, crocheting, gardening (which she learned from her mother as they shared a love of flowers), creating stain glass art and cooking venison Jimmy hunted. She was intuitive and had a deep understanding and knowing about people that helped them feel “seen” and “heard”. She could have conversation relating to any subject. While she often indulged in the interests and hobbies of the people she loved, such as; her husband’s, sons’ and grandsons’ hunting hobby, playing with her grandchildren, teaching them and her stepdaughter to crochet and sew. She had also a love for classical music and was an avid reader. But being a mother and grandmother gave her the most joy. She was selfless in the time she spent nurturing and enjoying the world through the eyes of her children, so she often did not leave enough time for herself. But she would tell you that it was alright, she had all the joy she needed through sharing herself with her family.
While she was a hard worker and selfless nurturer, she was also a hard sleeper and could sleep through 10 alarm clocks and clapping pots and pans when her husband tried to wake her in the mornings. But when she woke, she burst onto her day with that ray of light and energy the world needed.
We will miss the way she would enter into a room excitedly and throw her shoulders back, hands out and greeted us with an excited, “HOWDY, HOWDY!” and a hug with warmth. We’ll miss how she would close her eyes and wrinkle her button nose and announce, “SO GOOD”, when she enjoyed a delicious dish or described a happy time or celebrated our accomplishments. We will miss her guidance, understanding and kindness.
We thank the Lord for letting this family be the luckiest people to have had the honor of calling this unique and gifted “true angel”: Daughter, Sister, Wife, Mother, Granny, Gigi, friend and “favorite” of all who knew her.
Annette was preceded in death by her father, William “Bob” Collier; mother, Veda “Kitty” Collier; and brother, Bill Collier. She is survived by her beloved husband of 52 years, Jimmy; sister, Shirley; brother, Tommy (Rhonda); her children, Kevin (Rachel); James (Jessica); step-daughter, Marie (Wayne); 7 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren whom she loved, cherished and cared for in the greatest capacity possible; and many beloved cousins, in-laws, nieces, nephews, co—workers, and friends.
Services of Death and Resurrection will be held on Saturday, July 12, 2025 at 10 am in the sanctuary of Salem Methodist Church 2165 Middle Road, Eastover, North Carolina 28312. The Family will receive friends at 9 am in the church sanctuary. Interment will follow the services at 11 am in Lafayette Memorial Park 2301 Ramsey Street, Fayetteville, North Carolina. Rogers and Breece Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.