The photographs show Stephanie Dixon with arms around the love of her life, Nicolas Blane Dixon.
Her words showed the same depth of affection as she spoke about him on Tuesday, July 9.
“He was the greatest person I ever met,” Stephanie said. “That’s why I married him.”
She went on to remember Blane as a “phenomenal father.”
A Hall County sheriff’s deputy, Dixon was shot and killed Sunday, July 7, while chasing burglary suspects. The couple had just celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary on June 21.
How to help
Hall County Sheriff’s Office has opened a fund for the Dixon family at Peach State Bank and Trust. Donations can be dropped off at 325 Washington St., Gainesville, or mailed to Peach State Bank and Trust, P.O. Box 290, Gainesville, GA 30503-9835. Checks should be made payable to the Deputy Nicolas Blane Dixon Memorial Fund. A collection box is also available in the lobby for notes, cards and other gestures. Businesses and other organizations are also donating services and proceeds.
“He could talk to anybody, he was so compassionate,” Stephanie Dixon said. “He worked a lot of overtime at Margaritaville, and literally would give people cash out of his wallet to get a cab to drive home safely.”
Lucas Arnett, Margaritaville at Lanier Islands’ operations manager, said he worked closely with Dixon over the summer. Dixon would patrol the property and helped out the water park’s young employees.
“He always had their backs and was super involved,” Arnett said. “He was a great mentor to the employees and they looked up to him.”
Stephanie said her husband “was just an amazing person, and he loved what he did.”
She is now left to care for a 9-year-old son and a 3-month-old son, but she is feeling the support of a community wanting to help her through donations.
“It’s a little overwhelming, but I understand and appreciate all the support in everything that’s going on,” Stephanie said. “I’m just kind of wowed by all the people who knew my husband and are honoring him.”
Staff writer Kelsey Richardson contributed to this story.