Princella Howard-Dixon

Obituary For Princella Howard-Dixon

Mrs. Princella Howard Dixon 73, left the embrace of her children to be with the Lord on Sunday morning December 20, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. She was born to Prince Albert Howard and Bertha Mae Davis Howard in Montgomery, Alabama on September 24, 1947. She was the oldest of eight children born of this union.

Princella graduated from St. Jude Catholic High School in Montgomery, Alabama. She attended Briar Cliff College in Sioux City, Iowa on scholarship. After many years of devoting her time to raising her children she returned to school in 2014 and completed her Bachelors of Arts degree in English and Early Childhood Education at Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Georgia.

Princella grew up with a love of service to the community. During the height of the Civil Rights Movement at the age of 16, Princella was appointed by Andrew Young as the youngest field state representative for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) where she led non-violent protest workshops and voter registration rallies. While in college she served as the president of the youth division of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) for the State of Iowa. She later answered the call of the nation from SCLC President Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and returned to her native city to participate in the historic March from Selma to Montgomery. In 1993 Princella had the honor of being included in the anthology Freedom's Children for her important civil rights activism. On March 4, 2008 in Selma Alabama Princella received the Freedom Flame Award in commemoration of the Selma March.

Princella married Dwight E. Dixon on January 1, 1974 during the Watch Night service at the Huntington Beach Church of God in Huntington Beach, CA. They were parents of five children and seven grandchildren and were married for 45 years until Dwight’s passing in May 2019. Princella valued her faith, family, and friends. She was a dedicated homemaker and avid traveler who visited over 20 countries. She never met a stranger and was known for adding new friendships everywhere she went. She loved to write poetry and songs and could often be found reciting them to her grandchildren or visitors to her home. She had a special interest in archiving historical and current events and created an extensive book collection over the years.

While raising her children Princella continued her community activism in the metro Atlanta area by serving on the board of the Clayton County Department of Family and Children Services for several years where she passionately advocated for families and children to receive the resources they needed to continue attending school and to remain in healthy and safe homes. In addition, she worked with many progressive schools and organizations such as Montessori and the 4-H program as an outreach educator and educational aide. Bringing her love of nature, science, and the environment to the young minds of the children she taught.

Princella is survived by her six siblings Barkley Howard Jr. (Peggy), Rubye Braye, Wilhelmina Shelem (Ishael), Wanda Battle, Levetia Howard, and Felise Haley. Her five children, Eduane Wade (Apryl), Dahn Ballard (Alimi), Star Dixon, Praise Jackson and Joel Dixon (Suzanne). Grandchildren Alejandro Espinoza, Sydnee Wade, Ethyn Wade, Ryan Jackson, Taylor Jackson, Zion Ballard, Kairo Ballard and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

We mourn her passing but celebrate her life and her home going to be in the presence of the Lord. May we continue her legacy by serving the Lord in spirit and in truth.