Person:Willie Dickey (1)

Biography

Willie Rebekah Dickey was born on 1 March, 1894 in New Hope, Loudon County, Tennessee, the daughter of Wilbur Abbot Dickey (1855-1910) and Sarah Elizabeth Suddath (1870-1943). Willie grew up in with her family in Sweetwater, Tennessee. She attended and received a degree from Centenary Women's College in Tennessee, quite an accomplishment for a young woman in those days. She majored in education and became a teacher and dietician.

Willie Dickey married Robert Ashford Smith of Rockwood, Tennessee on 2 August, 1920. They lived on the large Smith Family farm in Rockwood, Tennessee for several years. During the depression, Willie (with the help of a live-in helper) cooked for and made lunch for up to 40 people many days, from food that was grown on their family farm. For her efforts in helping other, she received several commendations from the Governor of Tennessee and other local government officials.

Willie and Robert Smith had four daughters, Sarah Elizabeth (Ibbie), Mary Martha (Honey), Margaret Frances (Sugar) and Rachael Carolyn. Unfortunately, Willie and Robert Smith divorced abt. 1942, and afterwards Willie raised her four daughters. In spite of very little support from Robert Smith after their divorce, Willie raised and guided all of her daughters in their early years, making sure they all received an education - they all went to college and attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, TN.

Willie taught school and became a dietician in a local hospital for many years and ended her career as hostess and meal-planner for the First Baptist Church in Knoxville, TN. She conducted church-sponsored seminars for the poor in Knoxville, showing them how to prepare affordable, yet healthy meals.

In December of 1966, Willie (Dickey) Smith went to live with her youngest daughter, Carolyn, who lived in Canoga Park, CA. She had planned on staying with her daughter and helping care for her two grandchildren for many years. Unfortunately, Willie had a sudden heart attack of 16 February, 1967 and died in her sleep.

Her funeral was held at the First Baptist Church in Knoxville, Tennessee (where she had volunteered for many years), and was attended by over 1,000 people, including many of the state and local government officials, including the Mayor of Knoxville, whose wife sang at the funeral. She is buried in the Dickey family plot in the cemetery in Sweetwater, TN.

Willie (Dickey) Smith at her retirement party