Sara Waller Dickson

Dickson, Sara Waller - age 92, of Knoxville, passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 20, 2014 at Tennova Residential Hospice surrounded by her family. Mrs. Dickson was born June 8, 1921 in Southside, TN, near Clarksville, to the late Henry William Waller and Lucy Trotter Waller. She is preceded in death by her sister, Mamie Alice Lewis and brother, William Russell Waller, both of Clarksville, TN. Her husband of 58 years, Lewis H. Dickson, Sr., died in 2000. Sara is survived by one son, Lewis H. Dickson, Jr. and his wife, Deborah, of Knoxville; one daughter, Nancy Dickson Christmas and her husband Barry, of Cary, NC; four grandchildren, Laura Dickson Schroeder and her husband, Nathan, of Maryville, Lewis H. Dickson, III (Trey) and his wife, Cory, of Knoxville, Patrick G. Dickson and his wife Amber, of Knoxville, and Emily Dickson Randall and her husband Christopher, of Knoxville; six great grandchildren, Chase and Will White, sons of Laura, Harper and Porter Dickson, daughter and son of Trey and Cory, Kaylee Dickson, daughter of Patrick and Amber and Avery Randall, daughter of Emily and Chris; one nephew, Charles Lewis and wife, Liz, of Wilmington, NC; three nieces, all from Clarksville, Sara Atkins and husband Mike, Rhonda Scott and husband, David, Melony Willard and husband Jim. Four surviving relatives by marriage include two nieces, Flora Castleberry McClain of Zephyrhills, FL and Bettye Dickson Halperin and her husband, Bob, of Austin, TX; two nephews, Dwight W. Dickson and his wife Gloria of Clarksville and John I. Dickson, Jr., of Nashville. In 1939 Sara received a basketball scholarship from Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, TN. She attended school there and played on the women’s varsity basketball team through the early 1940’s. She later taught school in Montgomery County in middle Tennessee and worked at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky during World War II. After moving to Knoxville in 1950, she became a member of Church Street United Methodist Church, the Murphy Builders’ Sunday School Class and was a member of the United Methodist Women of Church Street UMC, Circle #7. She also attended the University of Tennessee and was active in the U.T. Agricultural Extension Wives’ and Faculty Wives’ Clubs. For a short time, she served as a volunteer “pink lady” at the University of Tennessee hospital and spent 19 years as an employee of the former Knoxville City Board of Education where she worked in Teacher and Pupil Personnel Departments. Sara always enjoyed basketball and in the early 1960’s became Mt. Olive Elementary school’s first woman coach to organize a team of young female students and teach them to play and compete among other county schools’ basketball teams. Sara was also active in the Timberlake Garden Club. In 1966 she won a blue ribbon for her “June bride” floral arrangement. A beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Sara had a passion for love of life, her family, friends, and sports, especially UT Lady Vols basketball. She leaves behind many lifetime friends and family members who will miss her greatly. Her last ten years were spent at Shannondale Retirement Center, Shannondale Assisted Living Center West and the Shannondale Health Care Center in west Knoxville. Her family would like to thank all of the staff members for their kindness, support and assistance during that time. A very special thanks goes out to caregivers Angie and Freda for their love, devotion and care. The family will receive friends at Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm on Sunday, February 23, 2014 which will be followed by a celebration of life service with Rev. Cabel Trent and Rev. Darryl Rasnake officiating. A private interment will then take place. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to The Pat Summitt Foundation at www.patsummitt.org. Online condolences may be made at www.rosemortuary.com

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Sara Waller Dickson

June 8, 1921 - February 20, 2014