LaWanda Dickerson

Mrs. LaWanda Light Dickerson, age 97, of Fall Branch, went to be with the Lord, Saturday, August 24, 2019, at her home. Mrs. Dickerson was a lifelong native of Washington County and the daughter of the late William Barton & Myrtle Mae Light. She was the oldest of six children and was very close with all of her siblings. She attended Johnson City Business College after high school and she went on to work at Holston Defense, then Y-12 (in Oak Ridge), while her husband was in the Navy during WWII. After he returned, she stayed busy teaching at Oak Glen School for a short period; once their family started growing, she focused on being a homemaker for her husband and their 3 children. She enjoyed church & was very active in her church community (especially WMU). She also enjoyed spending time with family, cooking, keeping others fed, being at important events at her church and with her family; but mostly making sure you knew you were loved. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Fall Branch.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Henry “Doc” Dickerson; her daughter, Barbara Spivey; two sisters, Patsy Dickens and Louise Light; two brothers, George “Brud” Light and Billy Jack Light; and one sister-in-law, Frances Hall.

Mrs. Dickerson is survived by her daughter, Patricia Gail Dickerson; her son, Roger Dickerson (Peggy); grandchildren, Jason Spivey, Brooke Dickerson, and Caleb Dickerson (Brittany); sister, Linda Painter; two sisters-in-law, JoAnn Light and Virginia “Jenny” Light; as well as several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends at Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Home, Fall Branch on Tuesday, August 27th, 2019 from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. The funeral service will immediately follow at 7 p.m. with Rev. Carl Strickler and Pastor Ron Owens officiating.

Graveside services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, August 28th at First Baptist Church of Fall Branch Cemetery.

Family will serve as pallbearers; honorary pallbearer will be Rusty Dickens.

The family would like to express a special thanks to the nurses and chaplain, Michael Driver at Smoky Mountain Home Health & Hospice Care; as well as her caretakers, Dee Garst, Lois Arrington and Debra Taylor.

In honor of LaWanda, memorial donations may be made to The Gideons Ministry, checks may be made payable to  The Gideons International Processing Center, P.O. Box 97251 Washington, DC 20090-7251 or to The First Baptist Church of Fall Branch Cemetery Fund, P.O. Box 82, Fall Branch, TN 37656.