Grace Roberts Dickens, 96, of Omega died Monday, March 10, 2008, at her residence. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, March 14, 2008, at Leila United Methodist Church in Omega. Rev. Grant Abernathy will officiate with burial to follow in Leila United Methodist Church Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Lonnie Canady, Bobby Oliver, Buddy Purvis, Tony Purvis, Joe Watson and Andrew Dickens. The family will receive friends on Thursday, March 13, 2008, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals. The body will be placed in the church one hour prior to the service.
Mrs. Dickens was born on September 16, 1911 in Colquitt County and was the daughter of Mallie Monroe Roberts and Mattie Bell Roberts, both deceased. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Wilbur Dickens; her step-father, R. L. "Bob" Canady; a daughter, Betty Ruth Dickens Boswell; a granddaughter, Pamela R. Wessell; a brother, Hall Roberts; two half-brothers, Frank Canady and Bobby Canady; two step-brothers, Edgar Canady and J. C. Canady; and two step-sisters, Alnes Stephens and Iris Hudson. Mrs. Dickens was a life-long resident of Colquitt County and a long-time member of Leila United Methodist Church, which she attended faithfully until her recent illness. Mrs. Dickens was a homemaker and helped her husband on their farm. During the 1950s through the 1960s, she worked part-time at The Diana Ladies Shop in Tifton and the Omega Dry Goods store, where she made many friends. She loved her family, her church, and she especially enjoyed being with young children.
Mrs. Dickens is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Lamar and Dalma Dickens of Omega; a grandson and his wife, Dr. Bradley L. and Sharalene Dickens of Bakersfield, California; two step grandsons, David Eveland of Reno, Nevada and Robert Eveland of Reno, Nevada; five great grandchildren, Andrew and Brooke Dickens of Bakersfield, California, Erin Bedard and her husband, Tom, of Gainesville, Florida, Ethan Heverly of Missoula, Montana, and Justin Wessell of Palatka, Florida; three great great grandchildren, Tyler Burnett of Gainesville, Florida, and Austin and Emily Bedard of Gainesville, Florida; one sister, Oneta Purvis and her husband, Woodrow, of Jackson; a number of nieces and nephews; and a special life-long friend, Annie Ruth Freeman of Omega.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Leila United Methodist Church in Omega or Hospice of Tift Area.
The family would like to extend special thanks to her care-givers, Joanne Loyd and Polly Neeser, as well as to Dr. Richard Pierzchajlo and his staff.