Roxie Dabney

Mrs. Roxie E. (Hall) Dabney was born on Wednesday, March 5, 1930, in Nelsonville, Ohio to the late Rev. Benjamin J. Hall and Lottie Pearl (Mattox) Hall. The fourth of nine children, she grew up in rural Athens County, and graduated from Nelsonville High School. Roxie gave her life to the Lord at an early age at First Baptist Church in Nelsonville, where her father was the longtime pastor.

In 1959, Roxie married the love of her life, George Henry Dabney. They shared twenty-three years of wedded bliss until his death in 1982. When asked by friends and family why she never married again, she would often say that George was her soulmate and since she had already had the best, why settle for the rest?

After moving to Columbus, Roxie joined New Salem Baptist Church under the pastoral leadership of Rev. Frank Cleveland. Roxie and George were both active members and served in many capacities, including on the deacon and deaconess ministries. Roxie loved the Lord and loved her church family. In her 92 years, she only had three pastors: her father, Pastor Cleveland, and Pastor Keith A. Troy, who provided her pastoral care for nearly forty years.

Roxie retired from The Ohio State University after a long a career as a clerk and attendant, primarily at the old Larkins Hall. She loved her job and often said that working with those college students kept her feeling youthful, along with walking nearly everywhere, since she never learned to drive. She loved road trips and traveling with her siblings, and was a steady, stable force in her family. George affectionately called her “Rock,” and that’s exactly what she was to her friends and family. A rock of stability, friendship, and faith.

Roxie transitioned peacefully at home on Friday, December 16, 2022. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and all eight of her siblings, Lucille Conrad, Mary Virginia Denham, Georgiana Woodson, Sally Conrad, Susan Miller, William Henry Hall, Dolly Shaner, and Gilbert Hall.

She leaves a host of nieces, nephews, extended family, church family, and neighbors to cherish her memory. She was truly one-of-a-kind.

A celebration of Roxie’s life will take place on Tuesday, December 27, 2022, at New Salem Baptist Church, 2956 Cleveland Ave, Columbus, OH 43224. The visitation is at 11 AM and the service will begin at Noon. Pastor Keith A. Troy, Officiant. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the New Salem Institute (Sunday School) in Roxie’s memory.