Dixie Harris

Dixie Hoke Harris, 85, died peacefully at home in Wilson, Wednesday, August 12, 2026, after a brief illness. 

Born Sept. 15, 1940, in Statesville, Dixie was the daughter of the late Everette Eugene Hoke and Mary Rheba Stikeleather Hoke. Dixie was a 1958 graduate of Scotts High School and still counts her classmates among her dearest and longest friends. She was a member of the Scotts High School Dance band playing a mean clarinet. Dixie was accepted with a full scholarship at Appalachian State Teachers College (today’s Appalachian State University) and planned to become a teacher after high school. However, she was offered a job at Northwestern Bank as a bookkeeper and chose the business route in lieu of college. Much to her surprise her daddy, Everette, gave her a brand new 1958 Chevrolet as a graduation gift.

That car and Dixie’s beautiful legs would start her on a lifetime journey with Mickey Harris. They met at Miller and Harris Esso Service Station on Front Street in Stateville, North Carolina. Mickey pumped gas for a dark-haired beauty in a beautiful car and fell in love.

On July 1, 1960, Dixie married the love of her life, James Malcolm (“Mickey”) Harris. For 61 years, they built a family-oriented life with their children Anne and Brett at the center. Yet, their love expanded beyond just their kids. Keith Whitaker joined their family in middle school and made it complete. Everything they did was for their kids, whether it was the South Iredell Young Athletes Association to provide opportunities for kids to play football, teaching water skiing on Lake Norman, Sunday family meals, or opening their home to anyone who needed a place. Mickey and Dixie relocated to Wilson, settling in to be closer to their kids in October 2021 and Mickey unexpectedly died in January 2022. Dixie has lived in Wilson since that time.

Dixie and Mickey were lifelong friends with Bill and Carolyn Holland. They lived side-by-side for over 25 years in Sharon Colony, raising their kids, building tennis courts and a pool which served as the home-away-from-home for many kids in the West Iredell County area. Friday night post-football pizza for anyone who showed up, tennis tournaments and pool parties made the Whitney Lane dead end road the place to be. They shared good times and tragedies always blanketed in love. Dixie was a wonderful mother to Anne and Brett and Keith, a shamelessly proud grandmother to Blair, Taylor, Mack, Maggie, Drew, Kali and Chelsea and a gentle great-grandmother to Harrison, Anderson, Evan, Ella, Archie, Margaret and Baby Boy Southerland expected in September. Dixie was their fiercest champion, their strongest enforcer, their planner of fun, snack maker, ironer (the woman could iron some clothes), chicken casserole guru, photo taker, and their biggest cheerleader. And, while she would course correct a grandkid in a flash, anyone else who tried would meet the wrath of Dixie.

Dixie’s career spanned nearly 50 years. She advanced to the Trust Department at Northwestern Bank until resigning in 1975. Dixie worked at home for five years running kids to practices, substitute teaching and filling in at a radiological medical office where her friend Carolyn worked. She was recognized by the Iredell County Board of Education for her volunteer services provided to the local county school system.

In 1978, Dixie joined Catawba Radiological Associates as the Business Manager and remained there until her retirement in 2005. She served on the Board of the North Carolina Radiological Business Managers. During her tenure Dixie worked tirelessly on behalf of North Carolina radiological practices driving payment reform and billing practices. Her work was recognized with the establishment of the Dixie Harris Service Award where she was the inaugural recipient in 1997. Dixie also served on the Board of the Southeastern Angiographic Society (SEAS). Other honors include an Award of Leadership Excellence for the Hickory Better Business Bureau in 1996 and Boss of the Year by the Carolina Catawba Chapter of the American Business Women’s Association in 1992.

Dixie will be dearly missed but we all know she loved us, because she told us, every day, including in her last few hours. And she knew we loved her. What more could a family want on earth than to love and be loved by their family. Dixie is survived by her daughter, Anne H. Lloyd and husband, Steve, of Morrisville, NC; her son, Brett Harris and wife, Susan, of Wilson, NC; her son, Keith Whitaker and his wife, Lisa, of Oak Island, NC; grandchildren, Blair Myers and her husband, Jason, and their sons, Harrison and Anderson of Wilson, NC; Taylor Southerland and his wife, Jadis, and son Baby Boy Southerland expected in September of Smyrna, Ga.; Mack Lloyd and his wife, Sarah, and their children, Evan and Ella of Cary, NC; Maggie Schackart and her husband Kevin of Matthews, NC ; Drew Lloyd and his wife Kayla, and their son Archie of Marshfield, MA; Kali Murphy and her husband, Patrick and their daughter Margaret, of Raleigh, NC; and Chelsea Baskin and her husband, William, of Clemmons, NC; her brother Wade Everette Hoke and his wife, Linda, of Ronda, NC; and Amye Hoke Wiggins and her husband, Kevin, of Taylorsville, NC.

Two services have been planned.

Saturday, September 12, 2026, from 10:00am – Noon, – a floating Open House at 2003 Canal Drive, NW, Wilson, NC

Saturday, November 14, 2026, at 11:00am with lunch to follow – Bethel Lutheran Church, Claremont, NC 28610.

The family would like to thank the many people who cared for Dixie in her final months. Her primary care provider, Peggie Parks, and her cardiologist, Dr. Sanjay Cherukuri, took care of our mother as if she was their own. For that, we are eternally grateful. The medical teams and staff at Wilson Medical Center and Rex Healthcare were second to none, the in-home caregivers from ComForCare of Wilson, NC, and the team from Hospice of Wilson cared for Dixie and our family. All saw Dixie for the proud, independent, fierce woman she was, cared for her and honored her wishes. Thank you seems inadequate but “Thank You”.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the Junior and Senior Youth Programs at Bethel Lutheran Church, 5759 Bolick Rd., Claremont, NC 28610; or Hospice of Wilson, 1901 Tarboro Street, SW, Suite 301, Wilson, NC 27893.