Aglaia Constantine Dixie Mauzy

Aglaia Constantine Dixie Mauzy left this life the way she lived it — feisty and tough — at the age of 89, on August 15, 2025. Aglaia, the second child of Charles H. and Lucille (nee Wallace) Dixie was born in Fort Worth, Texas on December 22, 1935. Following Greek tradition, she was named after her father’s mother. As a child growing up in Texas in the 1940’s she was teased quite a bit about her unusual name. In Greek mythology Aglaia is one of the three Graces, standing for brilliance and beauty. We have never been sure if our Popou was prescient when he named her, or if she simply chose to live up to her name.

Aglaia never conformed to expectations. A tomboy, she could throw the ball farther and faster than anyone else in her Oak Cliff neighborhood. She was known to take down any kid who tried to pick on her younger siblings. She was a voracious reader from a young age and a champion debater at Adamson High School. She completed her undergraduate studies at SMU in two years. When she announced she wanted to go to law school, her immigrant father declared, “Absolutely not.” It was only when her older cousin, prominent civil rights attorney Chris Dixie, pleaded with his uncle to “let the girl go” was she allowed to enroll in SMU Law School. Aglaia was one of two women to graduate from SMU law in 1959.

Aglaia’s first job was as a law clerk at the office of her father’s attorney. It was there, as a 21-year-old law student that she met her future husband, Oscar Mauzy. Although Aglaia’s father knew and liked Oscar, he was not happy his eldest daughter wanted to marry a “xenos” or that she wanted to be married in December, during the holy week. Aglaia started her legal career as an associate at Mullinax, Wells & Mauzy, where she learned the art of her trade from many of the best labor lawyers of the day.

Even after having three children in four years, Aglaia continued to practice law. In a mid 1960s newspaper article about an important discrimination case she was trying, she was referred to as the wife of the local State Senator. In her published letter to the editor Aglaia insisted that if she must be referred to as an appendage of a man, she preferred the moniker of “Charlie Mauzy’s mother.”

Aglaia moved on from Mullinax Wells after she and Oscar divorced. She went to work at Legal Services Corporation where she met her lifelong friend, Frank Stenger. At Legal Services Aglaia and Frank filed significant and consequential class actions to protect the rights of patients in state mental hospitals. Later, in private practice Aglaia and Frank courageously represented a lesbian mother whose ex-husband sued her for custody of their son based solely on her lesbian sexual orientation. In Dallas in the mid 1970s being gay was enough for any parent to lose custody of their children. The terrible loss was somewhat offset when a book was written and a movie was made about the case and the trial, thereby educating the public about a lopsided justice system for the LGBTQ+ community. The 1978 film, ‘A Question of Love,” starred Gena Rowlands and Jane Alexander.

Aglaia was one of first lawyers to become Board Certified in Family law in the 1970s. She was always a fierce advocate for her clients, and over the years, many of them became close friends. Family law fit her personality because she always thought she knew what to do and took great pride in helping her clients navigate the most difficult moments of their lives. This trait did not often win her favor with her opposing counsel, some of whom reportedly nicknamed her “the Barracuda,” which her family did not believe was meant as a compliment. Patience and subtlety were not her strong suits.

For Aglaia, family was everything. She loved spending time with her younger brothers George and Nick. She and George were law partners for many years. During one big case they tried in Austin the opposing counsel thought they were writing each other notes in Greek, not realizing that they both just had terrible handwriting. Neither she nor George ever learned to use a computer, and thus greatly contributed to the profits of the yellow legal pad manufacturers. The three Dixie siblings were known to meet regularly after work at the Stoneleigh P on Maple Ave. where they often sang the James S. Hogg Elementary school fight song and the Greek national anthem in unison.

Though she helped blaze the trail for working women, her proudest role was that of a mother. She doted on her children throughout their lives, including through adulthood and middle age, often touching base daily. She enjoyed keeping a beautiful home and hosting family dinners on Sundays. Dinners were comprised of Mediterranean diet favorites (before it was trendy) plenty of wine, teasing and laughter. The table would be full of family and whatever new friends she or her kids had picked up along the way. No one was safe from a quick quip, followed by a huge smile letting you know even if it was you who was being teased, you were in on the joke too. Around that table you knew you were in a safe space full of love.

Aglaia loved to travel, especially to Greece. In her later years she would sit at the base of the Acropolis, hard back Greek grammar book in hand, and study while everyone else took in the wonders of the ancient world, on the theory that if you had seen it once or twice you didn’t need to see it again. Aglaia and her favored travel buddy, and best friend, Patricia Meritz were known to shock more than a few foreigners and fellow tourists with their outrageous running commentary while sipping the local wine.

Aglaia is preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Lucille Dixie, her siblings Christos Dixie, George Dixie, Nickolas Dixie and Jeanette Dixie, her beloved sister-in-law Donna Dixie and cherished nephew Charles Dixie. She is survived by her adoring children, Catherine Mauzy (Hans Magnusson) of Austin, Charles Mauzy (Lola Jimenez) of Dallas and Mexico City, and James Mauzy of Dallas, her sister-in-law Gwen Dixie of Dallas, her cherished nieces and nephew Nicole Aviles (Arturo) of Austin, Christa Butler (Tom) of Gause, Alexandria Paris (Jason) of Dallas, Gretchen Gardner of Austin, Jimmy Garner of Austin, great nieces and nephews Hudson Paris, Alex Aviles, Nickolas Aviles, Eleni Paris and Rhett Paris.

Trisagion service will be Thursday, August 21, 7:00 p.m. at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 13555 Hillcrest Rd, Dallas, TX 75240. Funeral service will be Friday at 11 AM Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church followed by lunch and burial at Grove Hill Cemetery 3920 Samuell Blvd., Dallas, TX 75228.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the ACLU, Volunteer Legal Services of Central Texas, or any other organization dedicated to fairness and justice and ensuring the doors of the courthouse remain open to everyone.