VERONICA BLANCHE BESS was born May 19, 1943 in Baltimore, Maryland, to the late Floyd and Mildred Bess. She departed her earthly life suddenly on January 30,2014. As a young child family surrounded her. The eldest of six girls, she was often tasked at a young age with taking her siblings for back-to-school shopping and bringing home groceries. She formed an early, life-long bond with her maternal Grandmother, the late Eleanora B. Vessels. She often reminisced about attending First Baptist Church or periodic shopping trips in old, pre-mall downtown Baltimore with "Mama", and especially enjoyed animated store windows at Christmas. They also enjoyed traveling by bus, then car, to Ronnie's great- grandparents' farm in Abingdon, Maryland - "Up the country". The family often spent summers on the farm, picking vegetables, helping herd cows and wrangling chickens, canning, and taking cool dips in the Bush River. And there were the unforgettable Holiday dinners, with turkey roasted in a wood-fired stove and eaten by kerosene lamplight. Veronica was a good student at schools #104 and #137, and sang in the Glee Club at Garrison Junior High School. Inspired by the exemplary skill and kindness of teachers like the late Mabel Byrd, she was determined to become a teacher herself. After graduating from Edmondson High School in June 1961, she entered then-Morgan State College that fall in pursuit of her goal. Ronnie contributed significantly to her college education by working summers at the Maryland Glass Company. She also attended Baltimore Junior College and then-Maryland State College in Princess Anne. In June 1967, she received a Bachelor's Degree in Education with a concentration in History from that institution, becoming the first college graduate in her family. She inspired several of her sisters to pursue careers in education. That fall, having passed the National Teachers' Examination, Veronica began teaching history at the old Francis M. Wood School. In 1969 she was transferred to Pimlico Junior High School. In 1972 she received her Master's Degree in Administration and Supervision from then - Coppin State College. At Pimlico she taught and also supervised practice teachers. On April 16, 1977, she married her husband of over 36 years, Osborne B. Dixon, Jr. They had first met upon her arrival at Morgan sixteen years earlier. Around that time Veronica also sat before an interview panel for promotion to Department Head. Her high performance during that interview led to her placement as Head of the Department of Exceptional Children at Walbrook High School. Veronica applied herself diligently to learning DEC curriculum. Over thirteen years she guided her staff to make Walbrook's DEC component one of the best in the city. In October 1980 Veronica gave birth to her daughter, Carol Veronica, the undisputed apple of her eye. She achieved balance as a mother and a professional, taking summers off to spend time with Carol until the mid 1980s. In 1990, she became an Assistant Principal at Hampstead Hill Middle School. In 1994, Veronica was transferred to William H. Lemmel Middle School as managing assistant principal. She was also Principal at the Greenspring Middle School citywide high school Summer School location in 1997, and participated in several writing teams. In December of that same year, Veronica was appointed principal of Highlandtown Middle School where she had begun her administrative career. Returning to Hampstead Hill, now renamed Highlandtown Middle School, she immediately plunged into the tedious job of resurrecting the school, one of the city's largest. Veronica's reputation for effective leadership became carved in stone. She always encouraged her staff to develop themselves professionally, and was never one to hinder their growth. She told her staff, "If the children know you genuinely want them to succeed, they will respect you". The staff moved instruction, and measured indicators rose. When Highlandtown Middle was nevertheless classified 'persistently dangerous', a few parents elected to transfer their children elsewhere. Later in that school year, several of those same parents asked if they could transfer their children back to Highlandtown. Never one to brag, the work Veronica did truly spoke for her. Once, a student wrote about her Principal as her "Champion of Courage" for the Fox 45 News contest. She described how Veronica Dixon demonstrated the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The essay was chosen and highlighted on the station as read by the contest winner. This is but one example of the many, many students she touched during her career. Over time she could be anywhere in Baltimore City or surrounding areas when a former student or parent would recognize her and call her by name, sometimes "Ms. Bess", even into the 2000's. Veronica retired in 2006, after thirty-nine years in the Baltimore City Public School System, all of it in buildings. At that time, she looked forward to beginning a second career, possibly in education. In 2007 she was tapped to assist in the organization of the Buford-Drew-Jemison Charter Middle School, which she did for two years. She was then finally able to put her feet up, and enjoy a well-earned retirement and Carol's 2007 wedding. That time was made even sweeter in October 2013, when her first grandchild, Ryan, was born. She beamed excitedly as she got to see and hold him. Ronnie had a servant spirit as she was always there if anyone in her family needed help, or when a professional peer sought guidance. Always stylish, Ronnie liked to shop, cook, play pinochle, watch movies and the soaps, read novels by Sidney Sheldon and Mary Higgins Clark, play the Maryland Lottery, and talk on the phone with her friends. She enjoyed music, particularly Luther Vandross, Celine Dion, Barbara Streisand, and Roberta Flack. As a member of the Big Sisters Club of Baltimore, Ronnie had fun attending club meetings and helping to plan service projects as well as, the annual fashion show. A dog lover, Ronnie was surprised one day shortly after Carol had gone to college, to come home and find her first Miniature Schnauzer, Maxwell with Osborne, greeting her at the door. Ronnie went on to give two more Minis, Franklin and then Winston, loving care. She is survived by her husband, Osborne B. Dixon, Jr.; daughter, Carol D. Croxton; son-in- law, Brandon R. Croxton; grandson, Ryan BJ. Croxton; sisters Linda Milton (Thomas), Paula Fleet, Sharon Bess, Eleanora Johnson, and Machele Bess; nieces Sage Johnson, Tasha Milton, Kisha Fleet Hendrick (Sean), Nikita Artis, and Jennifer Ashley; nephews, Kirk R. Fleet, Jr. (LaTisha) and Joseph Johnson, and a host of grandnieces, grandnephews, relatives and friends. Memorial Service Sr. Mathews Catholic Church Wednesday, February 12, 2014 10:00 AM Email Details 5401 Loch Raven Blvd.
Baltimore, Maryland Service to begin @ 11:00 am Directions