JAMES SEARCY DICKERSON, 83, died at home on May 29, 2007, after fighting a long illness. He attributed his bravery to his Country, Community, and Church. Mr. Dickerson was born in Waco, Texas on March 26, 1924. He was especially proud of his Texas roots because his grandfather, James J. Dickerson, was one of the first United States Marshals and supposedly encountered Billy the Kid. Soon after his birth, his parents, Robert Carl and Camille Dickerson, moved the family to Memphis. Carl Dickerson directed the local office of the American Cotton Shippers Association. Jim Dickerson attended Central High school and made the All Memphis football team twice. Afterwards, he interrupted his brief career at the Citadel Military College to fight for his country as a citizen soldier. During World War II, Lieutenant Dickerson was the point scout of the Second Rangers for two tours of duty in the European theater. He earned the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, and the Combat Infantry Badge with a Star. He returned to battle during the Korean War and received the Purple Heart. After serving his country, he obtained an undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia and a Masters degree from the American Graduate School of International Management (now the Thunderbird School of Global Management) in Arizona. He worked for several years in international trade including time in Puerto Rico with the National City Bank. He returned home to Memphis, married Nell Fargason, and founded an international export merchant firm, which he operated for fifteen years. During that time, he served on the board and was president of the Memphis Transit Authority under Mayor Henry Loeb. When he was in his early fifties, Jim Dickerson made a career change to farm cotton and soybeans in the Mississippi Delta with his son. His love and loyalty to his family extended to his church where he was on the vestry and taught Sunday school. Jim was happiest sharing life with his friends; especially if they appreciated a good joke, hunted, fished, played tennis and tolerated his golf. He is best loved for his sense of humor. In addition to his wife, Nell, he leaves two children, Nell C. Dickerson of Memphis and James S. Dickerson, Jr. (Katharine) of Lyon, MS; and two grand-children, James Charles Dickerson and John McCoy Dickerson. Mr. Dickerson's life will be celebrated on Friday, June 1, at 10:30 a.m. at the Church of the Holy Communion with a reception afterwards. Burial will follow in Elmwood Cemetery. The family requests that memorials be sent to the Church of the Holy Communion at 4645 Walnut Grove Road, Memphis, TN, 38117 or to the Church Health Center of Memphis at 1210 Peabody Ave., Memphis, TN, 38104. Canale Funeral Directors (Published in The Commercial Appeal on 5/31/2007.)