January 17, 1945 - January 29, 2024
Jimmy Lee Dickerson passed away on Monday, January 29, 2024, at Appling Healthcare in Baxley, Georgia. He was 79 years old.
Jimmy was born on January 17, 1945, to Edward and Launa Dickerson of Sylvania. He grew up on his family’s farm along with his five siblings – Melvin, Jean, Harold, Judy, and Lynn – and together, they raised livestock, grew row crops, and operated a small country store at the intersection of Brannens Bridge Road and Georgia Highway 24 in Screven County. Over the years, the intersection became known locally as, “Dickerson’s Crossroads.”
Jimmy graduated from Screven County High School in 1963 and continued working on the family farm for a time before enrolling in college. After completing two years of study at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, he continued his education at the University of Georgia for a short time before returning home to the family farm after his father’s death. During the Vietnam War era he was drafted into the United States Army. He was deployed overseas to Germany, and after his honorable discharge he returned home once again. As time passed and Jimmy became the owner and operator of the home place, he named it, “Four Corners Farm.”
In 1976, Jimmy met and married Linda Ann Pierce, the love of his life, and for the next 47 years they were rarely apart. They made their home on the farm and raised beef cattle that (almost) always came to his call. Jimmy also worked in construction, and later as a rural mail carrier for the United States Postal Service for 20 years.
Very few days passed that didn’t find him tending to his cows or performing other work around the farm. He loved building and fixing things (including his beloved John Deere tractors), and solving problems as they arose. If you asked him, he often said he was, “Just piddlin’ around,” but the truth was that Jimmy worked hard almost every day of his life, and had a difficult time sitting still. Even in the evening hours, while visiting with family or relaxing, he usually had a bowl in his lap full of peas to shell or pecans to clean. Many bags of shelled pecans found their way into the homes of neighbors, friends, and relatives, and he loved hearing back about all the good desserts made with them.
Jimmy was a regular attendee at Buck Creek Church, where he sang in the choir, helped with the annual barbecue fundraisers, and even took a turn as the Sunday School Superintendent. His loved his church family and his God, and had accepted Jesus into his heart long before he stood before the congregation as a member.
Jimmy is survived by his loving wife, Linda, their two sons, Brett (Alyson), and Garett, two grandsons, Wynn and Dylan Dickerson, his brother Harold (Brenda) Dickerson, his sister Lynn Dickerson, as well as several nieces and nephews. Jimmy is also survived by a legacy of doing good unto others, and of being a positive influence on the world around him.
Pallbearers will be Eddie Dickerson, Scott Wells, Rod Pye, Robert Weaver, Scott Sell, and Tommy Smith.
Honorary pallbearers will be Olin Boyd and members of the Wesley Sunday School Class.
A funeral service will take place on Thursday, February 1, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at Buck Creek Church with Rev. Carroll Gay officiating and burial to follow at McBride Church Cemetery. The family will receive visitors at the church for an hour prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Buck Creek Church, c/o Angie Johnson 1091 Old Poor Robin Road , Sylvania, GA 30467, or the McBride Church cemetery fund, 2400 Newington Highway Sylvania, GA 30467.
Friends may sign the online register at www.joineranderson.com
Joiner Anderson Funeral Home Screven Chapel is in charge of all arrangements.
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