Esther Marie Dickerson

ESTHER’S LIFE AND LEGACY Esther Marie Dickerson, lovingly known as “Cousin Ess”, “Miss Ess”, “Queen Esther”, “May May”, “Mommom” or “Mother Dickerson” was born to the late Leona Marie Collins and Herby Cannon on July 4, 1937 in Philadelphia, PA. She peacefully departed this life on Wednesday, August 28, 2024 at her home with family. She was educated in the Worcester County School system. She was united in holy matrimony to the late William Ray Dickerson and of this union were 6 children, Carolyn, William “Bill”, Curtis, Michael, Leona and Terrie. Esther began her Christian walk at an early age and joined Mount Hope Baptist Church in Stockton, MD. She later joined Dea’s Chapel United Methodist Church in Horntown, VA, serving in several auxillaries including President of Woman's Society, Trustee of Finance, Kitchen Committee, Youth Choir, Coordinator, Usher board, the Adult Fellowship Choir and the Pastor’s Aide. She reinstated her membership back to Mount Hope Baptist Church where she was a faithful member until her health began to fail. She always had a close relationship with the late Reverend Recie Marshall and her new pastor, Reverend Rebecca Selby. She loved the Lord and would always tell of his goodness and she enjoyed listening to her gospel music, especially on Sunday mornings. Esther was a dedicated employee at several poultry plants where she became a mother figure to so many people. She was also hairdresser to many. She would have her children clean on Fridays so she could do hair on Saturdays. She had a passion for cooking and had so many requests for her to make her sweet potato pies, rice pudding, bread pudding, tuna casserole and stewed tomatoes, just to name a few. Almost every Sunday she would have some family members come for dinner. She loved reading her Harlequin present books and she would say how many places she had traveled. She loved talking on the phone until she said, “it’s time enough now to get off the phone.” She loved her children and loved talking about them. She would tell people that she had so many children all over and the color didn’t matter. Tonya (Tiny ) was her pride and joy. She had several caregivers in addition to Annette, Curt and Terrie. Cordelia and a young lady “India Thomas” with whom she felt a special bond and appreciated as well as long time friends, Janice Conquest, Cora “ Bootsie” and Josephine Spence. She leaves cherished memories with: her children, William (Bessie) Dickerson of Salisbury, MD, Carolyn Haley of Fort Washington, MD, Michael (Valerie) Dickerson of Morrow, GA, Curtis Dickerson, Leona Dickerson and Terrie (Jeffrey) Feddiman, all of Pocomoke, Maryland; adopted daughter, Diana (Larry) Finney of Whaleyville, MD; step daughter Victora Mills of Snow Hill, MD; one sister, Joan Walker of Philadelphia, PA; 11 grandchildren, Tonya, Terrell (Mitchell), Toi (Michael), Kashmere, Alicia, Kirsten, Darius, Ryan, Javon, Michael, Jr. and Tanyette; 12 great grandchildren; one sister-in-law, Hazel (Earl) Marshall and brother-in-law, J.C. Lankford and a host of nieces, nephews and friends. In addition to her parents, Leona Collins and Herby Cannon, Esther was preceded in death by her husband of sixty (60) years William Dickerson. SUBMITTED WITH LOVE ~ THE FAMILY

Esther Marie Dickerson

July 4, 1937 - August 28, 2024