Calvin Dawson

May 3, 2021

Long time Cantonment resident and barber, Calvin Dawson, passed away at home on the 29th of April, 2021, at the age of 96.

Calvin was born in Alabama on June 28, 1924. He is survived by his daughter, Barbara Jackson (Eddie); sons, Jimmy Dawson (Janice), Calvin Wayne Dawson, and William Thomas Dawson (Emely); 11 grandchildren, Larry, Lindsay, Ron, Rachel, Jennifer, Jill, Tanya, Jaquelin, Carlos, Michael, and Rick; and 28 great-grandchildren.

Mr. Dawson joined the US Navy on October 21, 1942 and served until January 20, 1946. Two of those years were served on the USS Neville APA9 during WWII. They invaded Sicily in July of 1943. They then traveled to the South Pacific. It took them 30 days to travel to Africa.

Mr. Dawson rejoined the Navy in 1948 for 1 year. He was one of the first to serve on the USS New Port News when it was built in 1949.

Mr. Dawson enlisted in the Army National Guard and served for approximately 1 year in 1950 as a staff sergeant.

Calvin Dawson and Voncille Miller were married on August 17, 1946 and had 1 daughter and 3 sons. He was preceded in death by Voncille on the 26th of March 1999.

Mr. Dawson moved his family from Alabama to Cantonment in 1955 when he bought the Cantonment Barber Shop. Mr. Dawson sold the barber shop in 2002, but he continued to work there until January 2020.

Mr. Dawson received his 60 year certificate in 2017 as a Master Mason of the Cantonment Lodge #322.

Calvin Dawson was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, and member of the Cantonment community. He will truly be missed.

A visitation will be held at Pensacola Memorial Gardens & Funeral Home on Thursday, May 13, 2021 beginning at 12:00PM, followed by a service of remembrance at 1:00PM.

The service will be available via live webcast for anyone that cannot attend. You may watch the webcast live and/or for 90 days after day of service by entering this website address into one of the compatible browsers (Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox on a Windows computer/phone or Safari on an Apple Mac/iPhone):

http://webcasts.lifetributes.com/1136033

The password for viewing this webcast has been set to: 21123

Comments

5 Responses to “Calvin Dawson”

  1. Charlotte on May 14th, 2021 8:18 am

    Mr. Dawson was my dad’s barber for many, many years. I remember going with my dad and being treated to a cold Coke and listening to their conversations. It was always such a treat. My deep condolences to the family.

  2. Billy Perkins on May 14th, 2021 7:38 am

    I got my first haircut from Mr. Dawson, and all haircuts during my childhood from his shop, He is a Cantonment legend. He was always so kind to me. I fondly remember those simple days and having an ice cold Coca-Cola in his shop while waiting my turn. My thoughts band prayers are with the Dawson family!

  3. Eubie Steadham on May 5th, 2021 11:52 am

    Love and prayers from the family of Eubie Steadham.

  4. Marcelle Alvis Perritt on May 4th, 2021 8:49 am

    Dawson’s Barber Shop was the meeting place for many Cantonment residents for many years.. Praying for his family

  5. Joe mathis on May 4th, 2021 5:57 am

    Thank you Mr.Dawson

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under Obituaries