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Community mourns loss of volunteer Dixie McAdams

by Staff Writer: Eliot Duke Thomasville Times

Every community needs a person like Dixie McAdams - someone who is caring, generous and always thinking of ways to help others.

Early Sunday morning, Dixie McAdams died from a viral heart infection at Forsyth Medical Center, leaving those close to her in a state of shock and trying to figure out how to replace a woman who gave so much to so many.

"I can't believe it," Dixie's husband, Gordon, said Monday. "It happened so quick. I don't know what I'm going to do. I don't think it's set in yet. We're all still in a fog."

Dixie, who turned 70 in January, and Gordon McAdams were two of Thomasville's brightest stars, as the couple volunteered countless hours for numerous agencies throughout the Chair City. The two were rarely seen apart and their volunteer efforts for organizations like Meals on Wheels and Fairgrove Family Resource Center have helped hundreds of people over the years. In April, the couple were set to celebrate their 46th wedding anniversary.

"It's going to be tough," said Gordon. "I'm so used to going around and doing things together, and we're not going to be able to do that anymore. Even though she's gone, I'm thankful for the blessed life we did have. We had a very blessed life together."

Gordon first met Dixie in 1962 at a dance on his Air Force base in Maine. The fledgling couple danced that night, and Gordon eventually mustered the strength to ask Dixie on a date. From there, Gordon said "the rest is history." The couple married two years later and, after moving around the country for a stint, decided to settle down in Thomasville following the birth of their son, Kevin. Once the McAdams started planting seeds in the Chair City, it wasn't long until their efforts became roots of compassion and giving back.

"She was a ball of energy and enthusiasm with incredible commitment and love for the people this agency serves," Terri Nelson, executive director of Fairgrove Family Resource Center, said. "(Dixie's death) is unreal. We have been just devastated. She never stopped helping other people and is probably one of the most loving, giving people I've ever known. It's a tremendous loss to this community."

Dixie and Gordon also were active members of the Fair Grove Lion's Club (FGLC), where the couple helped raise money and spent time working with the visually impaired. Dixie was due to become president of FGLC in June and Gordon was the Lion's Club's district governor. Current president, Patricia Carroll, said Dixie's death is still hard to accept.

"This community is going to really miss her," said Carroll. "This is one of the greatest losses FGLC has experienced in a long time. This is the shock of all shocks. You couldn't help but love her because she was so full of bubbles and love, and was such an awesome person. She was the most sympathetic person who's ever been. She was always there to lend a helping hand or fix a meal or bring a flower for whatever the case may be."

Linda Hunt, executive director of the Thomasville Medical Center Foundation, started the Senior Link program four years ago with Dixie's help, and said friends often referred to her as a "maniac" because she always on the go.

"She loved it when people said that to her," Hunt said. "Without her I couldn't have done what I did. She was that shining light. Dixie was so important to my life and the hospital. She was one of those people who made her mark in everything she touched. I don't know what we're going to do without her. I miss her terribly. If she could make a difference and touch a life, she would do it. That's why she made such an impact in my life."

Dixie and Gordon also were active members of Fairgrove United Methodist Church (FUMC), and the couple would visit the VA hospital in Salisbury on Christmas, handing out gifts and singing carols. Dixie was an avid Duke fan and could be seen at every Thomasville HiToms game during the summer.

"I can't express how hard it is not to have her," said Hunt. "It will take some big shoes to find people to pick up where she left off and make the difference in the lives of people. It's hard to find someone like her because she gave so much of herself. I don't know what we$re going to do without her."

Dixie's funeral will be held Saturday at FUMC at 2 p.m.

Read more: Thomasville Times - McAdams leaves behind a legacy of goodwill

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