By Miles Layton

HERTFORD — Dr. William “Bill” Preston Nixon, Jr., a Perquimans County native whose pioneering medical career and quiet, transformative philanthropy reshaped communities across North Carolina, died peacefully on November 12, 2025. He was 83.

Across the state, Nixon was known as a trailblazer in renal medicine, a Navy veteran, a philanthropist, and a visionary who expanded access to lifesaving dialysis care in a region that desperately needed it. But in Perquimans County — where he grew up in a close-knit Hertford family with siblings Deborah Green, Ed Nixon, Gene Nixon, Amy Cullipher, Kay Winslow and Charlotte Stallings — he is remembered first as a native son who never forgot where he came from.

To the people of his hometown, he was the rare figure whose gifts were measured not only in dollars, but in fields, facilities, opportunities, and the pride of generations of student-athletes who compete today in spaces that once existed only as dreams.

Local leaders say Nixon fundamentally reshaped what was possible for Perquimans County Schools. Superintendent Tanya Turner said his contributions “changed the trajectory of athletics in Perquimans County.”

“His gift created opportunities for our students that simply would not have existed without him,” Turner said. “He believed in what our young people could become, and because of that belief, he helped build a foundation that will serve generations. His legacy will live on every time a student steps onto those fields he made possible. We will forever be grateful for the way he invested in our children, our schools, and the future of this community.”

A Deeply Personal Impact: “A Gentle Giant” in Perquimans

While Nixon’s philanthropy is visible across the county, those who worked closely with him say the heart behind his giving was as remarkable as the projects themselves.

“As Executive Director of the Perquimans County Schools Foundation, I had the privilege of working with Dr. Nixon on projects in Perquimans,” Brenda Lassiter said.. “Specifically, I was responsible for collecting and receiving all donations and paying invoices as the projects moved forward.”

His commitment, she said, ran deeper than money.

“Dr. Nixon championed the improvement to athletic facilities at Perquimans High School. His enthusiastic commitment to give was due in part to his love and passion for athletics and the success of athletic programs.”

She added that his joy in giving was genuine and constant.

“I worked with Dr. Nixon on athletic projects at the local high school. He was motivated by a passion to see his alma mater’s athletic program succeed, but he also found great pleasure in giving. He was a very generous man, giving willingly and cheerfully from his heart.”

In one memorable exchange, Lassiter told him she considered him a “gentle giant.”

“A man of great height, strength, influence, but so very gentle, friendly, and kind,” she said. His response, she remembered with a smile: “He said ‘thank you for that — now let’s get down to business’. He looked away and chuckled.”

Nixon rarely acted alone — he pushed others to join him.

“So many times on projects, he would challenge others to give along beside him,” Lassiter said. “I remember specifically at his class reunion (Class of 1960), he gave first and challenged his classmates to give. They did not disappoint, sending in more than $2,000 for the baseball project from that particular reunion event.”

But perhaps the best illustration of his quiet generosity came in the invoices she received.

“Often, I would receive invoices to be paid through funds collected, but they would be marked ‘paid in full by Dr. Nixon’ when I received them,” Lassiter said. “It’s difficult to really ascertain how much he gave and I believe that’s the way he wanted it. He used his influence and generosity to inspire a cascade of generosity and for that we are forever grateful in PQ.”

Family Reflections: A Standard of Excellence

Nixon’s influence extended well beyond institutions and athletic facilities. His family says he shaped the people around him with equal intention.

From Nixon’s nephew, Leary Winslow, a member of the Perquimans County Board of Education.  

“His greatest gift was his ability to elevate those around him. He strongly believed in giving back to the community and often used gift-matching programs for his major donations to inspire broader contribution. He inspired everyone in his life to be at their absolute best—a standard I believe he expected from all of us. I will be forever grateful for the inspiration he provided me.”

Winslow continued: 

“My biggest takeaway from his life is that great accomplishments at a high level are possible regardless of your background. I will remember him for his work ethic, intelligence, sternness, compassion, and deep love for his family and community.”

Nixon and Winslow partnered to revitalize the Jim “Catfish” Hunter Baseball Complex, adding covered grandstands and a press box dedicated to coaches Bob Carter and Pete Hunter. Completed in 2022, the improvements gave new life to a beloved local landmark.

Winslow’s words echo a truth that many in Perquimans have repeated: Nixon believed excellence was achievable for anyone, anywhere — and he lived every day ensuring others had the path and the tools to reach it.

The Nixon Athletic Complex: A Legacy Built on 32 Acres and a Vision

Editor’s NOTE: The first time I covered commencement on the field at the Nixon Athletic Complex, maybe 2020, I remember thinking how grateful I was to be on the turf. A few years before that, in September 2019, the Pirates played their first game there, beating Columbia’s Wildcats 40–0.

The foundation for that stadium — and the entire complex — traces directly back to Nixon.

The project began in 2010 when he offered the county 32 acres of farmland across from Perquimans County High School. The site offered space for a running track, soccer fields, practice areas and potentially tennis courts — spaces the school never had.

When construction didn’t begin within the initial five-year window, Nixon extended the offer another five years. The effort gained momentum after former county commissioner Charles Ward left $600,000 in his will to benefit either a football field or library — a gift that catalyzed the county to move forward.

The football stadium, including bleachers, lights, concessions, and restrooms, cost $1.4 million. Ten-year estimates for the full complex were roughly $6.2 million.

At the dedication ceremony, Superintendent Turner described the moment:

“Tonight we stand on a field built from dreams and a vision … dreams and a vision which began nearly a decade ago of our community helping our student athletes learn fundamental life lessons through competition by providing safe, modern athletic facilities.”

She continued:

“Through generous donations from Dr. and Mrs. William P. Nixon, Jr., Charles H. Ward, the Perquimans County High School Athletic Complex Fundraising Committee, many generous donors and volunteers, and the leadership of the past three superintendents… the first phase of building this athletic complex and football stadium is a reality.”

A Life Rooted in Hertford

Born and raised in Hertford, Nixon grew up surrounded by the rhythms of small-town life and shaped by the values of family, service, and humility. After graduating from Perquimans High School, he attended Atlantic Christian College (now Barton College), where he played baseball and discovered the passion for medicine that would define the rest of his life.

He graduated valedictorian from the Medical College of Virginia, completed nephrology training at Duke Medical Center, and carried Hertford’s lessons with him every step of the way.

Nixon served as a Lieutenant Commander MC in the U.S. Navy, earning the National Defense Service Medal. After completing his service, he settled in Wilmington at a time when kidney care in the region was limited and often inaccessible.

With support from Duke nephrologists, he persuaded New Hanover Hospital leaders to allow an outpatient dialysis center outside the hospital — a significant innovation in 1979.

From that beginning, Nixon founded Southeastern Dialysis Center (SEDC) and Southeastern Nephrology Associates, expanding care through locations in Whiteville, Jacksonville, Kenansville, Elizabethtown, Shallotte, Burgaw and Warsaw. Thousands of patients across southeastern North Carolina were touched by his work.

Nixon was inducted into the UNCW Athletics Hall of Fame in 1999 and served as Seahawk Club president in 1985. But those who knew him say he never sought recognition. He cared only about the people whose lives would be changed.

His family described him as a man defined by “kindness, humility, and unwavering commitment to improving the lives of others.”

Colleagues described him as both brilliant and compassionate — a rare and powerful combination.

A Passion for Sports That Became a Legacy of Giving

Beyond medicine, sports were Nixon’s lifelong passion. His philanthropy strengthened programs and facilities across the state, including:

• Bleachers at Hardee Field and the press box at Legion Stadium/Jurgenson-Gabriel Field in Wilmington

• The Nixon Athletic Annex at UNCW

• The Almkuist–Nixon Athletic Rehabilitation Center at UNCW

• The Nixon SAA Scholarship supporting UNCW student-athletes

• Nixon Field at Barton College

• The Nixon Nursing Building at Barton College

But nowhere did his generosity resonate more deeply than in Perquimans.

Final Remembrances

Following Nixon’s passing, Perquimans County Schools and the Perquimans Schools Foundation placed flowers at the Nixon Athletic Complex sign in tribute. The district said:

“We are profoundly grateful for Dr. Nixon’s enduring commitment to our schools and our community. His generosity will continue to inspire and uplift Perquimans County Schools for years to come.”

His legacy is found not only in the facilities he helped build, but in the belief he instilled — that the young people of Perquimans County deserved world-class opportunities.

A memorial service will be held November 25, 2025, at 2 p.m. at Pine Valley Methodist Church in Wilmington.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to organizations Nixon supported throughout his life, including the American Cancer Society, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Wounded Warriors, Tunnel to Towers Foundation, or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

As Perquimans County Schools wrote in their message of remembrance:

“Please keep his family in your thoughts.”

For the communities he served, healed, and uplifted — from Wilmington to Perquimans — Dr. William “Bill” Preston Nixon, Jr.’s legacy endures in the fields where students play, in the clinics where patients receive care, and in the countless lives shaped by his generosity, vision, and heart.