It was October 5th, 1934, and Vietta Thomas was staying a few days with her
older sister Mabel Thomas Sweat. Mabel was sixteen years Vietta’s senior, and she
and husband Paul N. Sweat were living on Grady Street extension, on the north side
of the town of Blackshear, Georgia.
Vietta was on the front porch of her sisters house that afternoon, when she heard
the putt putting sound of a Model A Ford coming up the road, headed toward
Blackshear. The passerby was Omer Dixon, a young man whom Vietta had met
while gathering tobacco during the previous summer.
Jokingly around the tobacco barns, Omer had told Vietta “You are the prettiest
girl I have ever met, and I’m going to marry you”. Vietta confessed that she had been
impressed by the antics of the young man. “I believe I loved him at first sight” she
said to the author in later years.
As the Model A came up within view of the house Omer saw Vietta standing on
the porch. He brought the car to a stop and “Got down” she said. To “Get down”
was an expression which dated back to the days of horseback travel, when folks
actually had to get down from the horses back to visit with their neighbors.
Vietta said that he came up to the porch and started up a conversation. After the
two had talked for a while Omer told her that he was going to the show that night,
and asked if she would like to accompany him. “The show”, was a little carnival
which had come to Blackshear for a few days.
Vietta replied that she would have to ask her sister Mabel, who was in charge
of her, even though she was twenty years of age. Mabel gave her permission, and the
date was made, The two then parted, each anxiously awaiting the evening of fun
which lay ahead of them.
They spent a part of the evening enjoying the carnival. Vietta said that she had
never been to one, and it was an exciting evening for her. After their adventure the
two started on the way back toward the home of her sister. After they had traveled
a little distance Omer stopped the car and asked Vietta if she would like to talk for
a while. She replied that she must go on home, and Omer promptly started the car
and continued on the journey to her home. A courtship based upon honor and love
began that night, and lasted for many years to come.
My father told me, on a number of occasions that, “I Weren’t looking for a wife
when I met your Ma, but I knew she was a fine woman and I soon decided I couldn’t
do no better”.
On June 5th, 1935 Omer asked Vietta to marry him. She accepted, and nine days
later, on June 14th, 1935, the two of them began their life together. They were
married by John Griffis, Pierce County Ordinary, at his home at 333 Ware St. in the
town of Blackshear, Georgia. The union lasted for a total of just over sixty one years.
They were finally separated on September 16th, 1995, the day that Omer Dixon
passed away.