April 18, 2024, 61, Goldsboro —
Leon Vinson, 61, passed away on Thursday, April 18, 2024, at Wayne UNC Health Care. Leon was born December 3, 1962, in Wayne County, North Carolina. He was the son of the late Minister Roy Lee Dixon, Jr. and Linda Vinson Dixon.
Leon accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior on April 17, 2024. Leon was educated in Wayne County Public Schools. He graduated from Southern Wayne Senior High School in 1981. After high school, he enlisted in the United States Army and was honorably discharged after years of service. Leon was a good person. He never met a stranger and easily developed a rapport with everyone he met. He always greeted you with a smile. He enjoyed laughing and making others laugh. He was the life of the party. Leon played basketball in high school, for the City League, and the City of Goldsboro as a point guard and was affectionately known as Vinnie, Butterbean, Lon, or Vinson. He also enjoyed being the Assistant Coach to the Mt Olive 76’s.
Leon enjoyed cooking, eating, and trying different foods. He was a man of his word. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for his family and friends. He was a great listener and would listen before speaking and would give you an honest response whether you agreed with him or not. He was also stubborn! You had to offer a strong argument to change his mind.
Leon had one son, Leon Vinson, Jr. of whom he loved and was very proud of. Leon also had BONUS children whom he loved and assisted in raising who called him Pops: Kaleatha Howell, A’Quaviyon Howell, Ny’Ryl Jones, and D’Asia Jones Leon was preceded in death by his maternal and paternal grandparents, his father, aunts: Brenda Vinson Walker, Denise Dixon, Margaret Dixon Diggs, uncles: Benjamin Waverly Walker, Norman Dixon, and William Dixon, and cousin: Christopher Vinson.
Leon’s life will be celebrated by his son, Leon Vinson, Jr of Goldsboro, NC; two grandsons Elijah Leon Vinson and Leon “Josiah” Vinson both of Goldsboro, NC; his mother, Linda Vinson Dixon of Dudley, NC; one brother, Reginald Dixon of Dudley, NC; and one sister, Vickie Dixon Hyman (Billy) of Wilson, NC. Nieces: Amber Baldwin of Greensboro, NC, and Janiyah Dixon of Phoenix, AZ. Nephews: Reginald Dixon, Jr of Phoenix, AZ, and Juvon Ferguson of Goldsboro, NC. Aunts: Mavis Fuller of LaGrange, NC, Helen Carraway of Dudley, NC, Emma Jean Johnson (Greg) of Atlanta, GA., Marie Lewis of Pensacola, FL, Uncles: Freddie Vinson, Jr. (Catherine) Hampton, VA., James Dixon (Marilyn) of Iselin, NJ, and Bobby Dixon (Shelby) of Goldsboro, NC, and a host of other cousins and relatives.
The family will receive friends on Thursday, April 25, 2024, from 11:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. at Seymour Funeral Home in Goldsboro with Pastor Tim Whitfield officiating. A service to honor Leon’s life will be held in the chapel at 12:00 p.m. Interment will conclude at the Eastern Carolina State Veterans Cemetery at 2:00 p.m.
Services are entrusted to Seymour Funeral Home and Cremation Service.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.seymourfuneralhome.com.
