Lancaster mourns Dixie Huffman, 71

Lancaster lost a familiar face with the passing of Dixie Leigh Huffman, 71, who died on Monday, July 27, 2026, at Novant Health Ballantyne Medical Center. Ms. Huffman, a lifelong resident of Lancaster, succumbed to organ failure.

Ms. Huffman was a graduate of Lancaster High School in 1972 and continued her education at the University of South Carolina-Lancaster. She spent 23 years living in Nome, Alaska, from 1992 until 2015, a place she deeply cherished, before returning to her hometown of Lancaster.

The daughter of the late Forrest E. and Marguerite Sanders Huffman, Dixie was a breast cancer survivor. She was known for her private nature but also for positively impacting those around her. She is survived by her siblings Rita, Tony, and Sandy (Forest Jr.) Huffman, all of Lancaster. Her adopted sister, Sondra (Sandy) Selnick-Kahn, and Sondra's husband, Mark Kahn, also of Lancaster and formerly of California, also survive her.

Ms. Huffman was a devoted pet owner, sharing her life with her two cats, Pink and Floyd. She embraced life on her own terms, a sentiment echoed by her favorite band's lyrics, "Shine on, you Crazy Diamond."

A recognition of her life will take place at a later date at the home of Sondra Kahn. Details regarding this gathering will be announced to the community.