Widow of blues legend Willie Dixon.
Marie Dixon was born on August 1, 1937 in Oxford, Mississippi, daughter of Fred and Amelia (Wilson) Booker, one of fourteen brothers and sisters. Her mother, Amelia "Melia" Wilson, was born about 1907, daughter of Robert and Alice Wilson. Marie's family had long established roots in Oxford, as both of her parents were born and raised there. She attended New Hope, the school at her local church in Oxford and then Oxford Training School. In 1954, she left Oxford and moved to Chicago where she first worked in retail and attended the Red Cross School in order to become a nurse.
In 1956 Marie met the legendary blues musician, producer, and her future husband, Willie Dixon.
In the late 1970s Willie Dixon first had a vision for a blues foundation. In 1984 he formally established an organization as the "Blues Heaven Foundation," a non-profit designed to promote the blues and to provide scholarships, royalty recovery advice and emergency assistance to blues musicians in need.
After her husband's death in 1992, Marie served as the foundation's president and subsequently purchased the building of the legendary Chess Studios at 2120 South Michigan Avenue in Chicago in 1993 as a permanent home for the Blues Heaven Foundation. With assistance from her daughter Shirli Dixon-Nelson (1963-2003), the Blues Heaven Foundation and museum moved into the restored Chess Studios in 1997. She also continued the mission to actively assist artists in receiving royalties due from their recordings.
Marie Dixon died 20 November 2016 at Franciscan Health Olympia Fields of complications of cancer, diabetes and other health problems. She and her husband, who died in 1992, lived in California for many years. She returned to the Chicago area in about 2008.
Marie Dixon was born on August 1, 1937 in Oxford, Mississippi, daughter of Fred and Amelia (Wilson) Booker, one of fourteen brothers and sisters. Her mother, Amelia "Melia" Wilson, was born about 1907, daughter of Robert and Alice Wilson. Marie's family had long established roots in Oxford, as both of her parents were born and raised there. She attended New Hope, the school at her local church in Oxford and then Oxford Training School. In 1954, she left Oxford and moved to Chicago where she first worked in retail and attended the Red Cross School in order to become a nurse.
In 1956 Marie met the legendary blues musician, producer, and her future husband, Willie Dixon.
In the late 1970s Willie Dixon first had a vision for a blues foundation. In 1984 he formally established an organization as the "Blues Heaven Foundation," a non-profit designed to promote the blues and to provide scholarships, royalty recovery advice and emergency assistance to blues musicians in need.
After her husband's death in 1992, Marie served as the foundation's president and subsequently purchased the building of the legendary Chess Studios at 2120 South Michigan Avenue in Chicago in 1993 as a permanent home for the Blues Heaven Foundation. With assistance from her daughter Shirli Dixon-Nelson (1963-2003), the Blues Heaven Foundation and museum moved into the restored Chess Studios in 1997. She also continued the mission to actively assist artists in receiving royalties due from their recordings.
Marie Dixon died 20 November 2016 at Franciscan Health Olympia Fields of complications of cancer, diabetes and other health problems. She and her husband, who died in 1992, lived in California for many years. She returned to the Chicago area in about 2008.
Widow of blues legend Willie Dixon.
Marie Dixon was born on August 1, 1937 in Oxford, Mississippi, daughter of Fred and Amelia (Wilson) Booker, one of fourteen brothers and sisters. Her mother, Amelia "Melia" Wilson, was born about 1907, daughter of Robert and Alice Wilson. Marie's family had long established roots in Oxford, as both of her parents were born and raised there. She attended New Hope, the school at her local church in Oxford and then Oxford Training School. In 1954, she left Oxford and moved to Chicago where she first worked in retail and attended the Red Cross School in order to become a nurse.
In 1956 Marie met the legendary blues musician, producer, and her future husband, Willie Dixon.
In the late 1970s Willie Dixon first had a vision for a blues foundation. In 1984 he formally established an organization as the "Blues Heaven Foundation," a non-profit designed to promote the blues and to provide scholarships, royalty recovery advice and emergency assistance to blues musicians in need.
After her husband's death in 1992, Marie served as the foundation's president and subsequently purchased the building of the legendary Chess Studios at 2120 South Michigan Avenue in Chicago in 1993 as a permanent home for the Blues Heaven Foundation. With assistance from her daughter Shirli Dixon-Nelson (1963-2003), the Blues Heaven Foundation and museum moved into the restored Chess Studios in 1997. She also continued the mission to actively assist artists in receiving royalties due from their recordings.
Marie Dixon died 20 November 2016 at Franciscan Health Olympia Fields of complications of cancer, diabetes and other health problems. She and her husband, who died in 1992, lived in California for many years. She returned to the Chicago area in about 2008.
Marie Dixon was born on August 1, 1937 in Oxford, Mississippi, daughter of Fred and Amelia (Wilson) Booker, one of fourteen brothers and sisters. Her mother, Amelia "Melia" Wilson, was born about 1907, daughter of Robert and Alice Wilson. Marie's family had long established roots in Oxford, as both of her parents were born and raised there. She attended New Hope, the school at her local church in Oxford and then Oxford Training School. In 1954, she left Oxford and moved to Chicago where she first worked in retail and attended the Red Cross School in order to become a nurse.
In 1956 Marie met the legendary blues musician, producer, and her future husband, Willie Dixon.
In the late 1970s Willie Dixon first had a vision for a blues foundation. In 1984 he formally established an organization as the "Blues Heaven Foundation," a non-profit designed to promote the blues and to provide scholarships, royalty recovery advice and emergency assistance to blues musicians in need.
After her husband's death in 1992, Marie served as the foundation's president and subsequently purchased the building of the legendary Chess Studios at 2120 South Michigan Avenue in Chicago in 1993 as a permanent home for the Blues Heaven Foundation. With assistance from her daughter Shirli Dixon-Nelson (1963-2003), the Blues Heaven Foundation and museum moved into the restored Chess Studios in 1997. She also continued the mission to actively assist artists in receiving royalties due from their recordings.
Marie Dixon died 20 November 2016 at Franciscan Health Olympia Fields of complications of cancer, diabetes and other health problems. She and her husband, who died in 1992, lived in California for many years. She returned to the Chicago area in about 2008.
Gravesite Details
Along south road bordering Acacia Lawn section, about 300 feet from the 3-way junction by the office, second row from road.
Family Members
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