ALBANY – The secret to living a fulfilling, century-long life is to accept things as they are, said the Rev. Robert Dixon, who has never been known for accepting life passively.
Dixon, the longtime pastor of Mount Calvary Bishop Church, celebrated his 100th birthday Saturday at a gathering at the Comfort Inn.
He was instrumental in setting up the Community Police Relations Board in Albany and was its chairman from 1984 to 1988. He marched in many protests for racial and social justice and was even arrested once during an anti-apartheid protest.
He also enlisted in the Army during World War II and served at West Point in a segregated unit.
But, he said on his birthday, the trick was to advocate for change without becoming bitter about what is.
“Accept your life as it is, by accepting things as they come,” he said.
Yes, he faced down discrimination and injustice. But he still joked with his children and led his congregations with enthusiasm.
“I didn’t let it deter me,” he said. “I enjoy living.”
He retired in 2013, but he never stopped pastoring.
During the COVID-19 shutdown, he made phone calls to the sick and shut-ins.
“Try to cheer them up,” he said. “I’d say, it could be worse.”
Sometimes they’d respond by asking him how it could possibly be worse and he’d laugh.
“Well, it could be worse,” he said.
At his birthday party, congregants and church leaders as well as his many family members all donned masks to celebrate with him.
Deacon Timothy Owens of Mount Calvary Baptist Church called him “the legend of the century” but promised his speech at the party would be no longer than Dixon’s sermons, some of which were famously only seven and a half minutes long.
“You have protected and shielded us,” Owens said. “You have been there for us from A to Z.”
And then he began to list Dixon’s attributes in alphabetic order. The crowd cheered as Owens described Dixon as an advocate and advisor, a father and friend, and teacher and therapist. But when Owens got to xenial – meaning offering hospitality – and zest for God, the room rang with laughter. It was an appropriate choice given Dixon’s penchant for humor.
“He’s got an infectious laugh,” said his son John Dixon. “He would find humor in things we wouldn’t find funny.”
Among them: Dixon took the children to a movie once without checking its rating. As he realized his mistake and the children listened in puzzlement to jokes that went over their heads, he began to laugh.
“He’s howling with laughter, the loudest laugh in the theater,” John Dixon said. “Which kind of made us more comfortable: OK, we can enjoy this too.”
Most of the children were grown up by the time their father got arrested while protesting South Africa’s apartheid. They’d get letters from Dixon’s wife Georgia, letting them know that Dixon had marched for racial justice or started a police review board or led people to demand social change.
The arrest took them by surprise.
“But we’d know it was for a good cause,” John Dixon said.
The work deeply impressed them.
“I was in awe,” daughter Jacquelyn Dixon said. “He’s definitely an inspiration.”
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Retired pastor celebrates 100th birthday: 'Accept your life as it is' - Albany Times Union
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