Mr. Dexter B. "Britty" Dickens

Mr. Dexter B. "Britty" Dickens, age 92, of Thomaston, died Wednesday, June 19, 2019 at Thomaston Manor. Funeral services for Mr. Dickens will be held Saturday, June 29 at 11 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Thomaston; burial will follow at Shiloh Baptist Church. Visitation will be held at 10 a.m. until the funeral hour at First Presbyterian Church. Mr. Dickens was born in Manchester and raised in Barnesville to Dexter Dickens and Bonnie Trawick Dickens Sept. 15, 1926, but spent most of his life in Thomaston. He was a graduate of Gordon Military School, and attended Gordon College for a short time before serving his country in the U.S. Navy. He married the love of his life, Margie Meeks Dickens, in 1946, and had celebrated their 60th anniversary before she passed on Aug. 30, 2006. His vast working experience in Upson included Dickens’ Grill, Upson Laundry, Roy’s Drive Inn and Cherokee Cleaners. Mr. Dickens was assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Princeton in the Atlantic Theater during WWII while serving in the U.S. Navy. He was also a member of the U.S. Naval Reserve out of Atlanta Naval Station of the Jacksonville, Fla. Naval Base for several years. He was named Post Commander of the Year for the State of Georgia by the Veterans of Foreign Wars and played an active role in numerous Veterans Day programs across the state. He was a member of the Morning Star Lodge No. 27 for more than 60 years and served as past Worship Master. He was awarded the Service to Mankind Awards by both the Thomaston Sertoma Club of Thomaston and the North Georgia District. Mr. Dickens registered thousands of local veterans with the National Memorial in Washington, DC. Mr. Dickens volunteered more than 1,500 hours with Upson Regional Medical Center’s Auxiliary. He was a member of the Upson County Historical Society and its veterans committee. He compiled and researched information housed at the Thomaston-Upson Archives, names of every local person who served in World War I and II, the history of old homes in Upson County, history of masonry in Upson, history of Crest Community, the Greatest Generation Memorial Park, Helen Denton, Smith-Levi genealogy, Upson County Women of WWII and Yankee Doodle Gals of Women Pilots of WWII, index of Upson County Sheriff’s history from 1825-2012, Wereth Massacre (including Robert Green, victim of the Wereth Massacre), WWII Veterans and Goldstar Veterans, Staff Sergeant Joseph Hammond, Veterans Day POWs, Thomaston Police Chiefs, transcribed Index 1900 Census, Thomaston and Barnesville Sanborn Maps 1885-1921, a Tribute to John A. Thurston and Upson County Schools, History of John B. Gordon School at Shiloh, The Tax Law & Digest; A Valuable Genealogical Resource 1825-1852, Supplemental census transcribed 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900 and partial 1910. Street names for WWII Veterans, 1900 Around the Square display (using Sanborn maps) and Mr. Jack Morgan Upson Cemetery Book, a resource to help find headstones for Fellowship, Shiloh and Hendricks Cemeteries for the Upson County Cemetery Book. Mr. Dickens and his wife, the late Margie Meeks Dickens, raised their family in the Shiloh Baptist Church. After his wife’s death he returned to his Presbyterian roots and attended First Presbyterian Church in Thomaston. In addition to his wife and his parents, Mr. Dickens was preceded in death by his siblings, sister, Carolyn Dickens Zellner, and brother, Riley James Dickens. Mr. Dickens is survived by two daughters, Sandra Mock, of Thomaston and Christy (Jerry) Chapman, of Meansville; grandchildren, Wayne (Joy) Mock, of Lawrenceville, Barry (Christa) Mock, of Auburn, Robby Chapman, Derrick Kendrick, both of Fairburn, Beth (Anthony) Giacolone, of Milner; great-grandchildren, Valerie Mock, of Atlanta, Victoria (John) Mock Roddy, of Coral Gables, Fla., Will Mock, of Auburn, and Katie Beth Mock, of Auburn. Those desiring may make memorial contributions to the Upson Historical Society, PO Box 363, Thomaston, GA 30286, the URMC Auxiliary, c/o Mrs. Gloria S. Clark, 202 O St., Thomaston, GA 30286, or to the charity of the donor's choice. Fletcher-Day Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Condolences and remembrances may be expressed at www.fletcherdayfuneralhome.com