Clarence Manter ‘Red Shell’ Wixon of Revere, proud of his native heritage

Clarence Manter “Red Shell” Wixon of Revere, formerly of New Bedford, died Nov. 17 at Massachusetts General Hospital. He was born in Boston. He attended Boston Public Schools.

Mr. Wixon was a direct lineal descendant of Supreme Wampanoag Chief Massasoit, who met the pilgrims and celebrated with them on the first Thanksgiving in 1621.

He moved to New Bedford in 1976 and lived there until 1990.

Mr. Wixon had a lifelong involvement throughout the Wampanoag community as did his namesakes, his father and grandfather.

He was an avid dancer and could be seen at a dozen or more powwows each year throughout New England.

He was a long-serving member on the advisory council of the Massachusetts Center for Native American Awareness.

He was very proud of his native heritage and made it a point to pass along his knowledge of traditional and cultural values and wisdom to his children and to all those he came in contact with.

Mr. Wixon is survived by his wife, Deborah (Orlandino); four sons, Gaetano, Aaron Lewis, Avery Lewis and Clarence Manter IV; two daughters, Alanda Pearl of Boston and Naomi of Waterville, Maine; seven brothers, David, Danny and Nathan of New Bedford, Darrell and Stephen of Mashpee and Chris and Phillip of Waterville, Maine; two sisters, Donna of Conway, N.H., and Naomi of Waterville, Maine; grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

A traditional Wampanoag journey service will be held tomorrow at Watuppa Wampanoag Reservation, Freetown.

Services were held at Buonfiglio Funeral Home, Revere.