Dixie Clementine Platt

Born on July 17, 1934, she was the daughter of Fletcher and Alberta Ferguson.

Dixie grew up in Louisiana, Texas and Mississippi. She attended LSU in Baton Rouge, LA, graduating in 1956. While at LSU, she met her future husband, F DeWitt Platt. A year older, he arrived at her dorm to take a carload of freshman women to the Wesley Center Foundation. Everyone introduced themselves and when Dixie did, DeWitt stopped the car and said, Dixie Ferguson, we’ve been waiting for you! They were married in 1956, a union that lasted 69 years.

Dixie Leigh, their only child, was born in 1958 in Norfolk, VA. DeWitt, who served in the Navy for four years, was posted on Cape Hatteras, NC. In 1962, they moved to St. Louis, MO where DeWitt attended graduate school. Dixie worked as a buyer for women’s clothing at Stix, Baer and Fuller, showing a keen eye for fashionable dressing, a skill she would carry with her for the rest of her life.

In 1966, the family moved to East Lansing, MI, where DeWitt taught at Michigan State University. Dixie began working at MSU in the mid-1960s as a part-time academic advisor. She showed an intuitive ability to connect with students and help them decide on their majors, how to deal with adversity and more. She took a full-time position at James Madison College, a residential college within MSU which was developing a reputation for excellence in public policy and international relations. Starting out as an administrative assistant in 1969, Founding Dean Robert Banks saw her connect with students as well as her ability to work closely with faculty members. She became the Director of Academic and Student Affairs for the college, and she chaired the University-wide Assistant Dean’s group. Dixie deeply believed in JMC’s mission and using her Southern charm, she was a highly effective advocate during times of budgetary stress. Students nicknamed her The Steel Magnolia. When she retired in 1996, JMC endowed a scholarship in her honor.

After retirement, Dixie and DeWitt split their time between East Lansing and Sarasota, FL. In 2011, they made Sarasota their year-round home.

Dixie became fascinated with Sarasota’s rich history, serving as a docent for more than a decade at Historic Spanish Point.

In 2019, they moved to The Fountains retirement community today known as The Barclay. She quickly became integrated into the community, making many friends, serving on committees, overseeing the speaker series and providing testimonials for the marketing department.

Dixie received a terminal diagnosis in late April. She continued to stay as active as she could for as long as she was able. Less than two weeks before she died, her granddaughter, Martha Leigh and husband, Jonathan Matheny, brought their 8-week-old daughter, Maxine, to meet her great grandmother and great grandfather. It was a joyous occasion.

Dixie leaves behind her husband, DeWitt of Sarasota, FL; her daughter, Dixie Leigh and son-in-law, Michael Burke of Chicago, IL; her granddaughter Martha Leigh Burke and husband, Jonathan Matheny; and great granddaughter, Maxine of Milwaukee, WI and niece Babs Leggett and husband, Jim of Alexandria, LA.

Contributions in Dixie’s honor may be made payable to MSU, with a memo notation JMC-Dixie C Platt mailed to James Madison College Office of Development, 842 Chestnut Rd., South Case Hall, Room 360, East Lansing, MI 48825.