Mrs. Lillian White-Dickerson

WHITE-DICKERSON, Mrs. Lillian - Age 89, passed away Sunday, May 11, 2025 at her residence. Family hour 10:00AM Saturday, May 31, 2025 at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, G-5443 N. Saginaw Rd., with funeral service commencing at 11:00 AM. Interment Gracelawn Cemetery, 5710 N. Saginaw Rd. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 10:00 AM Saturday. Mrs. White-Dickerson will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd. and may be viewed from 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM Friday with family present from 3PM-6PM. LIFE: On the most special day celebrated for Mother’s, an Angel descended at 1:43 a.m. to escort one of God’s most faithful servants home with her wings. Mrs. Lillian White-Dickerson was born on May 1, 1936, in Memphis, Tennessee, the second eldest of eight siblings to the late Samuel and Ida (Edwards) White, Sr. In 1946, Lillian was 10 years old, and her family relocated to Flint, Michigan. In that same year she became an active and faithful member of the Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church, then later joining her mother at the Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, as a committed member until her health declined. She was part of the first graduating class of Black students at Flint Central High School in 1953 and later continued her education at Mott Community College. At age sixteen, she began working as an elevator operator at Citizens Bank alongside her sister, Barbara White-Veasley. They later made history as the first Black women employed at Michigan Bell Telephone Company. Lillian went on to work for General Motors Truck and Bus, where she retired after 29.5 years of dedicated service, working alongside her husband and best friend, Willie. On August 25, 1956, Lillian married her soulmate, Willie James Dickerson, Sr. Their union was blessed with three children: Dionne Renee Dickerson, Willie James Dickerson, Jr., and the late Lea Dickerson. Affectionately known as “Gigi,” she was the heart and epitome of her community, as a joyful giver and proud neighborhood mom. Her conversations often centered around her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, whom she adored and proudly supported. Lillian lived her life to the fullest, filled with laughter, happiness, love, and traveling, with her family and friends. Her passionate pass-time was eating seafood, fish, crab legs, shrimp, and baked potato, and her favorite genre of old school music. She took immense pride in following and celebrating every milestone of her grandchildren, from school programs and prom nights to college graduations and even their affiliations with Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and Delta Gems/Unified Sisters. One of her greatest joys was seeing her grandson march in the Chicago Thanksgiving Day Parade and traveling to Canada to cheer for her granddaughter Jada in the CANUSA games. Her most recent delight and bragging smiles was proudly announcing her nephew Van’ Heni White’s appearance on Family Feud. LEGACY: Her enamoring sense of humor, charisma and unwavering love for others made her a treasure to all who knew her. Lillian was the true definition of “Soulmate” showing unconditional love, devotion, and happiness as she leaves behind a legacy of love, devotion, cherished and daunting memories to her husband of 67 years, Willie James Dickerson, Sr.; daughter, Dionne Renee Dickerson, both of Mount Morris, Michigan; son Willie James “Jimmy” Dickerson, Jr., of Flint; grandchildren, Jalen Dwight Dickerson, of Flint, Jada Monae’(James Lewis) Dickerson of Davison, Michigan; Lea (Ahkeen) Josey of Saginaw, Michigan; great-grandchildren, Corbin “C.J” Pree, Jr., Isai Josey, and Illovvie “VV” Josey, all of Saginaw, Michigan; Syniah Lewis of Davison, Michigan; and Aeris Tidwell of Flint; special daughter, Dequela Tidwell of Flint; special granddaughter Montia McKnight, of Flint; brother, Larry Noal White, of Flint; sisters-in-law, Doris Dill, of Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Sandra Becoats of Flint; nieces, Tamala McWilliams and Journey White-Caywod, and Sheila Hemphill, all of Flint, Terra Luckett of Saginaw, Michigan, Renee (Keith) Ranson, Cherise (Bernard) Peters, and Dee Ann (Maurice) Cadwell, all of Atlanta, Georgia, Sharon Walker, Tonya (Carl) Hughes all of Evansville, Indiana, Pastor Cowenda (Pastor Kevin) Jefferson of Hogansville, Georgia, Pastor Sherri (Pastor Harold) Britton, Sr. of Flushing, Michigan, and Alondra (Taiwan) Garner, of Legrange, Georgia; Michele Lisa Dill of Atlanta "Buckhead", Georgia, and Ja’Taime White of Houston, Texas; nephews, Van’ Henri (Bridgette) “Bouncer” White, David (Tricia) White, all of Rochester, New York, Rev. Samuel (Sandra) White, III, of Detroit, Michigan, Terrance (Elisa) White of Indianapolis, Indiana, Charles (Metter) Smith, Jr. and Arthur (Jennifer) Dickerson III, all of Flushing, Michigan, Pastor Keith Dill of Flint Twp., Michigan, Gregory (Debra) Dill of Ypsilanti, Michigan, Reginald Dill of Monroe, Michigan, Noal (Kgothastso “Kay”) White, of Detroit, Michigan, Tony Luckett, and David E. White, Jr., both of Flint, John Lansdown of Huntsville, Alabama, Delon Grant, Sr., of Ionia, Michigan; Lamont Washington of Flint, MI, Kevin Smith of Mt. Erie, North Carolina, and David Veasley, Jr. of Port Saint Lucie, Florida; special “nephew” cousin, Keith (Tymeria) Biggs, of Flint, numerous, cousins, great and great-great nieces and nephews, and cherished friends, and neighbors, including Sharon Pitts, of San Antonio, Texas, Elder JoAnn Brown, of Houston, Texas, Oswald (Emma) Sams, and the entire Watson family all of Mount Morris, Michigan; and Sister of the Heart, Lottie Reid, of Flint. FAMILY MEMORIAL: She was preceded in death by her parents, Samuel, and Ida White, Sr. grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Evy Edwards; father’s and mother in-laws, Arthur Dickerson, Sr. and Mamie (Benjamin “Jack” Hemphill) McGee; daughter, Lea Denise Dickerson, sisters, Barbra Jean (David) White, Sr., and Morilyn Yvonne White-Baker; brothers, Samuel (Anna) White, Jr., David E. (Iola) White, Sr., Dwight A. White, and Albert D. White; brothers-in-law, Elder Arthur (Shirley) Dickerson, Sr. and Thomas "Sweetie" Dilworth; sisters-in-law, Thomasene Mabry, Shirley Hemphill, and Beverly (John) Lansdown; aunts, Rodeleana White, Inella (Henry) Biggs, Perry Mae White, Anna Pearl Austin, Modene White; uncles, Charlies (LeBertha) White, Elmo (Kay) White; niece, Candace White; nephews, Brian Dill, Dwight Corbitt, Anthony Mabry and Micheal Johnson; cousins, LaVonda “BaBa” Wilkerson, Solomon “Bud” Outlaw and Stanley “Dap” Gill; Sisters of the Heart, Dorothy Soles, and Romona Clark, and many beloved in-laws, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and lifelong friends. GRATITUDE: The family would like to express a thank you to the Richfield Township rescue team, especially Elder JoAnn Brown, Min. Montoya Curry-Smith, RN, Sandra Becoats, Sherry Miller, Janille Wells, Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church Family, Pastor Janard Lakes and the Spirit of Victory Church Family, Tamala McWilliams, Melody Smith, Asia Hatter, Andre Henry; program and repass supporters, and everyone who humbly supported us during this difficult hour.

Mrs. Lillian White-Dickerson

May 1, 1936 - May 11, 2025