of Sardis Community, AR
March 13, 1927 - June 3, 2024
Willie Mae (nee Lubker) Dickey passed into Glory on June 3, 2024 at Robinson Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in North Little Rock, Arkansas. She was 97 years old. "Granny," as many lovingly called her, was preceded in death by her parents, Albert Lubker and Mary Elizabeth Lubker Davis; her stepfather, George Davis; her husband of 59 years, Wayne O. Dickey; three siblings and their spouses; a daughter, Bettye Bateman and husband, Don; a daughter, Toni Bisbee and husband, Russell and a great-granddaughter, Jenna Grace Bisbee. She is survived by a son, Don and wife, Beth; a son, David and wife, Kathy; a sister-in-law, Wanda Livingston and husband, Willie; 13 grandchildren and at least 17 great-grandchildren.
Willie Mae was born between Cabot and Jacksonville on March 13, 1927. Her parents were tenant farmers. She survived the great flood of 1927; the stock market collapse of 1929 and the Great Depression; the terrible drought of 1930-31 and World War Il. She lived the majority of her life in Arkansas with brief sojourns in California and Texas as a young girl. She graduated from Little Rock High School on a Friday and married the boss from her job at Vogue Cleaners on Sunday, July 14, 1946. Wayne and Wille Mae had two sons and two daughters and were married for 59 years. The family moved to Chicot Road between East End and Sardis communities in Saline County in 1963 and Willie Mae lived there for 59 years.
Willie Mae was a housewife, mother and granny, but she also worked for two years at the LR Wakefield Elementary School kitchen and for 10 years at Model Cleaners at Stift Station in Little Rock. She was a member of several Baptist churches, most recently attending Trinity Baptist on Chicot Rd. She taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School for many years and was otherwise active in her churches. She finally got up the nerve to use her beautiful voice to praise the Lord with solo presentations. Willie Mae loved to sing; cook; collect recipes; read; sew and embroidery; study her Sunday School lessons; work in her yard and garden and visit with family and friends. She gave much of herself in caring for others. She was loved and will be missed by all who knew her until we meet again in Heaven.
Funeral will be 11:00am Friday, June 7, 2024 in the Chapel of Roller-Alcoa Funeral Home with Bro. Lee Ralston officiating. Visitation will be begin at 10:00am. Interment will be at McPherson Cemetery in Sardis Community.
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6 Condolence(s)
Theresa Van Horn
Tuesday, July 9, 2024
In church with her at Barnett on Willow springs she was a wonderful friend and Aunt I enjoyed being around her. She is with my mom now and they are gossiping everything. She will be truly missed. Love all the family.
Steve and Theresa Van Horn..
Norman & Pat (Crawford) Clark
Sunday, June 9, 2024
Ms Dickey was a True, Loving Friend to my Mom, Louise Crawford for many years, they are fellowshipping together again!! Sympathy & Condolences to All the Family!!
Ann Speir
Friday, June 7, 2024
Willie Mae was a pleasant surprise when she joined The Encouragers Class at East Union MB Church. The teacher is Conrad Speir. Willie Mae loved to interact with him and usually Conrad interacted right back. She was witty and always pleasant. We had good visits with her in her home and always enjoyed her stories. She has been missed while away. She is now enjoying her heavenly home. She was a treasure.
Leah Vocque
Thursday, June 6, 2024
I just heard about your Mom's passing. So sorry for your loss! She was a special woman, special friend, and great example of letting the Lord use her life for Him.
Alan Livingston
Tuesday, June 4, 2024
My prayers are with you and the rest of the family.
David M Dickey
Tuesday, June 4, 2024
A Tribute to My Mother
David Dickey
My mother, Willie Mae Dickey, was a remarkable woman. To the world, she was nobody special, just an old lady. But she did the most important things a person can do and she did them well. She was a loyal, supportive wife to my dad for 59 years; a loving mother and grandmother; a very hardworking and responsible person; a cheerful friend to many; and she loved the Lord Jesus and was a faithful, active church member for many years. She taught Sunday school, vacation Bible school and was involved in other church activities.
Mama had a hard life but overcame its difficulties. She was born to a poor farm family in rural Arkansas in the midst of the Great Flood of 1927. She grew up during the Depression and World War II. Her parents divorced when she was eight. Thereafter she lived with her mother, who was a harsh, cold person. She told my mom, “I don’t love you – who could love you.” My mother struggled with self-esteem throughout her life but didn’t allow it to make her bitter. She knew heartache, losing her two daughters far too soon.
My parents never had too much money, frequently barely enough, but my wise and frugal mother got more out of what she had than most people. She always worked hard, on the job, in the home, in the garden, at church. She loved reading, sewing, quilting and embroidery, working in the yard and the vegetable garden, and baby-sitting grandchildren. For 17 years after my father passed away she was independent and busy as ever.
My mother wasn’t perfect – who is She was very impatient. Whatever needed to be done, she did immediately and expected others to do the same. When I was young she was not always pleasant to be around. She could apply a limb from our little apple tree to the behind and make me sorry I had disobeyed. But I never for a second doubted her love for me. When I was in high school my mom had a spiritual renewal and became a different person.
There were few who didn’t love my mom. She enjoyed bantering with friends, especially at church, and with my sister’s boyfriends/husbands. She loved to sing around the house, had a beautiful voice, and had done some singing on the radio as a teenager. In her later years she overcame her fear and sang solos in church.
My life went south at age 50 and my mom was there for me. She provided whatever I needed without question. She helped me through my difficulties as no one else. I came to love her more than ever as we shared her last years together. We played endless hands of rummy, went shopping and out to eat, to church. I worried for several years over what to do with her when she could no longer live alone. Giving up her independence was very difficult for her. She constantly wanted to escape the nursing home, where we played more rummy, dominoes, sang old hymns, and went for rides as long as she could.
When she was immobile, could barely hear, couldn’t keep up with her dentures, glasses or hearing aids, she was still good for a sassy grin and a snappy comment. It was with great sadness that we all had to let go of her, but also great joy knowing she would not only be in the presence of the Lord through his grace, but would receive many crowns for her long life of faithfulness and love.
Yes, my mother was a remarkable woman.