Betty Smith Dickson

Betty Dickson

FLORENCE – Mrs. Dickson, 90, of 2350 W. Lucas St., formerly of York, SC, died Monday, October 23, 2017, at Presbyterian Community in Florence.
A graveside service is scheduled for 2:00 pm, Saturday, October, 28, at Beth Shiloh Presbyterian Church Cemetery in York, with The Reverend Dr. Archie W. Gaines, Jr., officiating. Friends will be received by the family after the service.
A memorial service will be held Sunday, October 29, 2:30 pm, at the Chapel of the Presbyterian Community in Florence. The Reverend Dr. Franklin D. Colclough and the Reverend Snow R. Donmoyer officiating. The family will greet friends after the service.
Mrs. Dickson was born May 3, 1927, the daughter of Parks and Ann Adkins Smith. She was a member of the Beth Shiloh Presbyterian Church, York her entire life, serving as elder, church school teacher, circle moderator, teaching the Catechism, and serving on many committees of the church. She was a recipient of the Presbyterian Women Life Membership.
She was a graduate of York High School, and Winthrop University (earning both bachelor and master degrees), and a home economics teacher in York High School for more than 30 years. She taught hundreds of young women and adults how to sew and cook, all the while instilling her values in her students. On many occasions she would purchase material for those students who could not afford to buy their own. Her life in her church, the school, and community was filled with service. She developed a course called Family Life Education in which she taught male and female students the practical skills needed in life. This course resulted in her being named the National Home Economics Teacher of the Year in 1980.
She had great love for her family. In earlier years she cared for older family members who suffered from ailments. She cared for her husband for many years at home after his stroke. She always took great delight in her grandchildren and great-grandsons, cherishing their visits and delighting in their time together.
After moving to the Presbyterian Community in Florence November 18, 2001, she continued to serve by visiting with neighbors, helping to landscape the grounds, serving on the Resident Council, on the food and spiritual life committees. For many years she would go to the skilled nursing section to have Bible studies with the residents. Only in the last two years, as dementia overtook her, did she stop making her rounds to cheerfully greet the staff and other residents.
She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers, James Parks Smith and Thomas Jackson Smith. Survivors include her son, Avery S. Dickson and his wife, Barbara C. Dickson of Cheraw, SC; grandson, Philip A. Dickson of Cheraw, SC; granddaughter, Sarah D. Bryan and her husband, Robert R. Bryan of Athens, GA; great grandsons Patten (Pat) Bryan and Pierce (Petch) Bryan of Athens, GA; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be made to Beth Shiloh Presbyterian Church, 1184 N. Shiloh Rd., York, SC 29745, Presbyterian Community of Florence, 2350 W. Lucas St., Florence, SC 29501, or Amedisys Hospice Care, 500 Pamplico Hwy, Suite D, Florence, SC 29505.
Bratton Funeral Home in York is serving the Dickson family.