Ethel Dickerson

Ethel Dickerson was born on July 27, 1929, in Steele, Missouri to Clifton and Reatter (Means) Dickerson. She was the last of 10 children born into the Dickerson Family.

Ethel moved with her parents and siblings from Missouri, to Indiana and finally settled into Benton Harbor, Michigan in 1945. Ethel quickly found her church home at New Bethel Baptist Church, under the leadership of Rev. Mitchell Raspberry. She graduated from Benton Harbor High School in 1949 and later moved to Chicago, IL, where she joined Antioch Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. W.N. Daniels. She returned to Benton Harbor, MI, in the 60’s to take care of her ailing mother and continued worship at New Bethel. Years later, she joined Ebenezer Baptist Church under Rev. Wallter L. Brown, and remained a faithful member under Rev. Bryan Clayborne.

If anyone knew one thing about Ethel, she always kept a job because she loved having money and buying nice things!  She was a laborer in the automotive industry most of her life, but also had a passion for women’s hair care. Ethel earned her cosmetology degree from Madam C.J. Walker College of Beauty Culture in Chicago, Illinois, to become a licensed beautician and she owned a small salon connected to the Townline Road house. She officially retired from Hoffman Diecast in the late 90’s and worked through AARP for the Benton Harbor Street Ministry with Rev. James Atterberry, until she fully retired and just enjoyed life. She had declining health in her late 80’s with renal disease but Ethel remained resilient and strong thus completing 5 1/2 years of dialysis in her last years.

Ethel was truly the life of the party. In her spare time, she loved to shop at boutiques for dresses and shoes to avoid having a “twin” at church on Sundays. She always played bingo and the casino slot machines and loved to travel to places like Chicago, Missouri, and Buffalo, New York to visit family and friends. Her day just wasn’t complete without her morning cup of coffee accompanied by a sweet treat and slipping in her request for a hot order of fries from McDonalds.

Due to the death of her only child, Renee Leanette (Dickerson) Conrick in 2020, she moved to Kalamazoo, MI to live with her grandchildren Shimonta Dickerson and Jayson Dickerson. She departed this life on February 4, 2025 at the age of 95. Her passing was peaceful and she was with family until the end. Ethel leaves the grandchildren to mourn, and a host of nephews, nieces, and cousins. 

Acknowledgement: We’d also like to give a special thanks to Cambria Tucker, Senior Care Partner PACE Portage staff, aids Marie Cole and Kim Davis, and the staff of Fresenius Kidney Care-Kilgore Road, Kalamazoo for taking good care of Grammy in her final years and days.

Everyone is asked to bring a flower arrangement that will be placed on a table to honor Ethel's memory at the memorial service. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ethel Dickerson, please visit our floral store.