Sarah Jorene McSwain Dixon (87), was born on October 29, 1936 to Lowell and Sarah Washburn McSwain and departed this life to her heavenly home on Tuesday, September 3, 2024 at Atrium Health - Cleveland.

Jo graduated from Lattimore High School in 1954 and went on to study music at Appalachian State University, where she met the love of her life, Clarence Lester Dixon, and they were married for 59 years. Throughout the years, Jo shared her musical talents by playing the organ for twenty years at Friendship United Methodist Church and teaching piano and organ lessons for forty years from her home. Her students never forgot the red piano and Jo's calm and gentle manner. She maintained lifelong friendships with many of her former students. Until her health declined, Jo was a faithful member of First Baptist Church, Shelby, where she sang in the choir and taught Sunday school for the Friendship Class.

Family was the center of Jo's life and what she enjoyed most. She was affectionately known as "MawMaw" or "Maw" and she took great pride in her role of being a wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

She was preceded in death by her parents and husband, a grandson, Dylan Dixon as well as her brother, Haroldtene "Mac" McSwain.

She is survived by her children, Cindy Dixon Strother and husband, Dennis of Red Springs, NC; Michael Dixon and wife, Joy of Lawndale and Mark Dixon and wife, Rhonda of Lattimore. She is also survived by her brother, Jim McSwain and wife, Peggy; sister-in-laws, Brenda McSwain, Dot Dixon, Betty Jane Falls and husband, Harold; grandchildren, Evan Dixon, Ethan Dixon (Samantha), Nathan Pearson (Christin), Emily Strother, Holly Strother-Waller (Matt), Darin Dixon (Brooklyn), Dusty Dixon (fiancee, Kinsley Morgan), Dawson Dixon, Kendall Wesson and Kaitlyn Wesson; great-grandchildren, Carter, Callan, Leighton, Lane and Levi Dixon, Madelyn Pearson and her lifelong friend, Glennette Bridges.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Terra Bella who cared for Jo, as well as the staff of the Third Floor at Atrium Cleveland.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, September 7, 2024 from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm at First Baptist Church, Shelby.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Saturday, September 7, 2024 at 2:00 pm at First Baptist Church, Shelby with the Rev. Asher Panton officiating.

The burial will follow the service in the Rose Hill Memorial Park.

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, Music Ministries, 120 N. Lafayette Street, Shelby NC 28150 or to the charity of the donor's choice.

A guest register is available at www.stameytysingerfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Stamey-Tysinger Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Inc., Fallston, NC.