Mary Dixon Death, Obituary – Mary Taylor Dixon, 77, of Abbeville, North Carolina, died on Saturday, December 17, 2022, at the Abbeville Area Medical Center. She was the daughter of the late E.L. Radford and Nylic Rowe Radford and one of fourteen children. She was born in the Virginia town of Roanoke. Mrs. Dixon was many things to many people during her life; yet, if she could be remembered for one thing, it would be as an educator and a loving caregiver to the people, plants, and animals who were closest to her.
Mrs. Dixon received her Master of Arts degree from the University of Georgia in 1997, in addition to her Bachelor of Science degree from Georgia State University. She founded the Abbeville Squared Facebook Group with the objective of promoting and supporting the Abbeville Town Square and other historical public spaces for the purpose of beautification and care. Her deep affection for Abbeville was evident in the care and attention she devoted on the ephemeral flowers and plants she tended all throughout the town square in her capacity as a master gardener.
Mrs. Dixon was married twice, once to Jim Cofer of Snellville, Georgia, and once to Charles “Chuck” Dixon, who died at Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina. Her granddaughters are Emily and Julia, and she has one great-granddaughter named Savannah. Her two sons, Jeff Cofer (and his wife Bevin) of Johns Creek, Georgia, and Chris Cofer (and his wife Valerie) of Knoxville, Tennessee, survive her. A memorial service will be held near the square in Abbeville at a later date, and the family wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude to the people of Abbeville for welcoming their mother and allowing her to contribute her skills to the upkeep of Abbeville’s reputation for friendliness and attractiveness. Donations in Mrs. Dixon’s memory can be forwarded to Barbara Freese, c/o Greater Abbeville Humane Society, 200 Greenville St., Abbeville, South Carolina 29620.