Mrs. Ophelia Harrell Dixon passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Wednesday evening, Jan. 2, 2019. She was 89 years old.

The funeral service will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019, in the sanctuary of the First United Methodist Church in Washington, officiated by Pastor Ken Hall. The family will receive friends at 1 p.m. until the funeral hour at Wesley Hall, First United Methodist Church, and other times at the Dixon residence located at 105 SE Avenue. Burial will be private.

Mrs. Dixon was born in Beaufort County to the late Mr. James Matthew Harrell and Annie Mae Gibson Harrell. She lived her life in Beaufort County except for a small time when she and her husband, the late Harvey Dixon, Jr., lived in Honduras with their five daughters. She loved Washington and especially Main Street, where she and Mr. Dixon owned three homes.

Mrs. Dixon was a brilliant cook and decorator. One of her most precious times was renovating the Leach House on West Main Street in the 1970s. Mrs. Dixon loved to entertain and hosted numerous rehearsal dinners, cocktail parties and supper club events. She owned a dress shop in downtown Washington and catered dinners for a short time. She and her late husband were long-time members of the First United Methodist Church, where she was a member of the Circle of Hope. She was a member of the Sans Souci Book Club of Washington.

She is survived by her daughters: Brenda Hardy, Laura Davis, Mary Tom Hink, Peggy Saba, and Julie Kucas; nine grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; a brother, James “Buddy” Harrell; and a sister, Peggy Harrell Woolard.

She will be remembered for her love of family and friends and her kind heart.

Flowers are welcome, or memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, 304 W. Second St., Washington, NC 27889.

Online condolences may be offered to the family by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com.

Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington is honored to serve the Dixon family.