January 16, 1950 – January 10, 2022
The family of Dixie McWilliams will celebrate her life of 71 years at 12:30 PM on Wednesday, January 19, 2022, at the Broadway Church of Christ. Her family will host a time of fellowship and remembrance from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Tuesday, January 18, 2022, at Lake Ridge Chapel and Memorial Designers. She passed on Monday, January 10, 2022.
On January 16, 1950, Dixie Woodard was born to the late Tommie and Julia (Seaton) Woodard in Brownfield, TX. She married Billy McWilliams on May 19, 1972 at Wellman Church of Christ. A beloved wife, mother, and Grammy, Dixie was a teacher with LISD for 22 years, mostly at Dupre Elementary. A woman of faith, she was also active in her church, the Broadway Church of Christ. She worked in the 3rd and 4th-grade departments for a time. Later, she helped with the Prison Ministry and volunteered in the front office as well.
Playing basketball both in high school at Wellman and intramurals at Texas Tech University, she was a fan of the Lady Raiders, catching games on radio, television, and in-person when she could.
She was a loving and supportive wife to Billy and never had an unkind word to say about their marriage. She kept her home well and full of love and positivity.
A devoted mother to Timothy, she raised him to be respectful, love knowledge, and follow Jesus. They loved reading and watching game shows together, especially Jeopardy. When he married, she felt blessed to welcome Amber, her daughter-in-law, into the family and loved her without reservation as she would have her own daughter.
As an educator, she earned her Master’s degree but had no interest in moving into administration, preferring to stay in the classroom with the kids she loved as her own.
She was an avid reader, loved working crossword puzzles to keep her mind sharp, and enjoyed crocheting blankets to give to the parents of newborn babies.
Once blessed with her grandson, Jeremiah, he became the love of her life and the center of her world. She loved nothing more than keeping him and keeping up with him as he grew into a toddler. They loved reading together and playing peek-a-boo and she poured the foundations of his faith in Jesus as well.
She was found to be with pancreatic cancer in February of 2019. Undergoing surgery and chemotherapy, her devotion to God never wavered and her fight and faith were an inspiration to many. Though cancer reemerged at the end of her life, she is remembered as a strong warrior who battled with an assuring positivity and what could be considered the motto of her entire life, “God’s Got This.”
Survivors include her husband, Billy McWilliams; son, Timothy (Amber) McWilliams; grandson, Jeremiah McWilliams; siblings, Jimmy (Judy) Woodard, Paul Woodard, and Micky (Kathy) Woodard.
Memorials
The family of Dixie McWilliams has designated the Children’s Home of Lubbock for memorial contributions donated in her memory.
