Henry Dickenson

Henry Dickenson, 93, died on Friday, July 19, 2013, at the home of his daughter in Hayes, VA. Henry was born April 26, 1920, in the Crackers Neck community and lived his entire life there until his illness in June, 2013. He was the son of Billy Dickenson and Laura Kate Wells Dickenson. He was a true son of God and was a life-long member of Big Springs Baptist Church. He was also a member of the Brotherhood of Maintenance and Way. Henry started his railroad career in 1942 as a scale cleaner with the Interstate Railroad in Andover, VA. He retired from the Southern Railway System as a Track Foreman in 1980. Henry is a true testimonial to the adage that hard work will not hurt you. Henry had a strong work ethic and instilled those values in his family. Everyone who passed by Henry's home would always look forward to a wave and a smile or to just make sure he was there. When his family would visit, they always took great pleasure counting all the waves Henry recieved from his friends. Henry had many friends and loved them as they loved him. Henry could be summed up in these words - hard working, honest, trustworthy and dependable. Henry was preceded in death by his first wife and mother of his children, Nadyne Buchanan Dickenson (1974); his second wife, Oma L. Dickenson (1999). Also preceding him in death were sisters and brothers-in-law, Margie Alice Barker and Buren Barker, Mary Elizabeth Stidham and W. A. Stidham, Jr., sister, Pearl H. Dickenson and brother-in-law, Archer G. Tate and two cousins he loved as brothers, Alfred Dickenson and Cecil Dickenson. Henry is survived by one daughter and her family - Mary Alice Dickenson Livingston and her husband, Johnny K. Livingston of Hayes, VA. One granddaughter, Mandy Livingston Ham and her husband, Richard Craig Ham and their daughter, Malory Matty-Ham of Hampton, Va., - One son - Richard Scott Dickenson and his wife, Deanie Pobst Dickenson of Powell, TN. One grandson, Jon Scott Dickenson and his wife, Heather Logsdon Dickenson and their daughter, Lily Claire Dickenson of Harlan, Ky., one sister, Cora H. Tate of Bristol, TN. Devoted nephews, Bill R. Stidham and his wife, Rena Gallihar Stidham of Kingsport, TN., Everette Stidham and his wife, Sue Hobbs Stidham of Liberty Township, OH., Jim Barker and his wife, Brenda Borchers Barker of Crittenden, KY., Terry Dickenson and his wife Kelly Dickenson; Steven and David Dickenson of Crackers Neck, VA., and two loving nieces, Linda Tate Andrews of Shelby, NC and Lisa R. Stidham of Kingsport, TN. Henry was also honored with a namesake Henry James Stidham of Liberty Township, OH. Also considered as a loving member of the family for over 51 years is Ann Lawson Wagner. Ann was best friend of Henry's first wife, Nadyne, and took care of her until her death. She was care-giver and friend to Henry and is appreciated by the family more than words can express. A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, July 23, 2013, at 12:00 noon at Powell Valley Memorial Gardens with Gary Sexton officiating. The family asks that everyone who would like to join them, please meet at the graveside at this time. Honorary pallbears are Jeff Stidham, Glen David Stidham, Daniel Stidham, Steve Andrews, Doug "Ink" Shupe, John Quillen, Bill Qualls, Jimmy Anderson, Wayne Wilson, Ray Thomas, Ron Flanary, Gary L. Hall, Richard Craig Ham, and sons and grandsons of Ann Lawson Wagner. In lieu of flowers, the family ask those who wish, make a contribution to their favorite charity in loving memory of Henry. Roy A. Green Funeral Home, Appalachia, is serving the Dickenson family.

Henry Dickenson

April 26, 1920 - July 20, 2013