John A. Dickerson (Courtesy)

John Alan Dickerson, Sr., 79, passed away on Saturday, December 27, 2025. The son of Fay and Laura Elizabeth McCurley Dickerson of Hartwell, Georgia, John was born in Anderson, South Carolina on August 23, 1946. He graduated from Hart County High School in 1964 and went on to attend Clemson University, where he earned his undergraduate degree in 1968.

While at Clemson, John served as President of the Blue Key National Honor Society, President of the Clemson University Student Senate, and Vice President of the social fraternity Kappa Delta Chi, which later became Sigma Nu. He was also inducted into Tiger Brotherhood and Who’s Who, honors bestowed on only a handful of students each year. Following graduation from Clemson, John began law school at the University of Georgia. On June 28, 1969, after his first year of law school, John married his elementary school sweetheart, Martha Paula Maret of Hartwell, Georgia.

John completed law school at the University of Georgia in 1971, and shortly thereafter, he and Paula moved to Toccoa, Georgia, the place they would proudly call home for more than five decades. John joined the law firm that was then McClure, Ramsay & Struble and is currently known as McClure, Ramsay & Dickerson. He served as City Attorney for the City of Toccoa for more than 40 years and also served several other northeast Georgia cities in that capacity. He was a past president of the Georgia Municipal Association City Attorneys’ Section.

John was a true master of the law and enjoyed an extraordinary legal career, receiving numerous statewide and local honors. In 2013, he was awarded the Chief Justice Thomas O. Marshall Professionalism Award by the State Bar of Georgia. In 2016, he received the Tradition of Excellence Award, one of the State Bar’s highest honors, presented to attorneys who have made significant and lasting contributions to the practice of law and their communities.

Locally, John served as President of the Stephens County Bar Association in 1978 and President of the Mountain Judicial Circuit Bar Association in 1980. In 2014, John was the inaugural recipient of the Judge Robert B. Struble Professionalism Award for the Mountain Judicial Circuit.

John also had the great honor of being inducted into the American College of Trial Lawyers, an invitation-only fellowship of exceptional trial lawyers who have demonstrated the highest standards of trial advocacy, integrity, professionalism, and collegiality.

Perhaps the only thing John loved more than the practice of law was his family. He and Paula were married for 56 years and shared countless cherished memories. John was also an incredible father and father-in-law to his three sons and daughters-in-law: Alan and Kim of Marietta, Georgia; Cory and Jennifer of Hartwell, Georgia; and David and Misty of Gainesville, Georgia. He was preceded in death by his parents and infant son, Brooks Walker Dickerson.

John was “Paw” to seven grandchildren he loved and adored: Maret, Emily, Ansley Grace, Will, Johnny, Madison, and Ethan. Words cannot describe the impact John had on each of their lives and the example he set for their families. He is survived by his dear sister, Carol Dickerson Cobb, and brother-in-law, Douglas Cobb.

In addition to his extraordinary legal career and always being present for his family, John was a devoted community leader, both on the front lines and behind the scenes. He served as President of the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce, served on the Toccoa-Stephens County Public Library Board for 30 years, was a member of the founding board for Leadership Toccoa-Stephens County, along with many other important community leadership roles.

John received the Distinguished Citizen Award presented by the Northeast Georgia Council of the Boy Scouts of America, was honored as the Outstanding Young Man of Toccoa and Stephens County, was a graduate of Leadership Georgia, and earned his Eagle Scout rank as well as the God and Country Award from the Boy Scouts of America.

John and Paula have been active members of Toccoa First Methodist Church for over 50 years, where John served as Chair of the Administrative Board, taught Sunday School, and served faithfully in numerous other capacities.

Pallbearers include Sonny Allgood, Dennis Cathey, Clay Fisher, Weymon Forrester, Scott Hardigree, Bobby Hobgood, Billy Kidd, Dick Simmons and Bill Smith.

Honorary pallbearers include Chuck and Jean Larsen, Herbert and Margaret Lowery, Buster and Vicki Smith, current and former partners and staff of the Law Firm of McClure, Ramsay & Dickerson, City of Toccoa commissioners and employees, and members of the Mountain Judicial Circuit Bar Association.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Toccoa First Methodist Church at 333 E. Tugalo Street, Toccoa, GA 30577; Toccoa-Stephens County Public Library at 53 W. Savannah Street, Toccoa, GA 30577; or Georgia Legal Services (a non-profit providing free legal assistance to low-income individuals) at 705 Washington Street, SW #1, Gainesville, GA 30501.

John’s legacy of integrity, service, and devotion to family will live on through the countless lives he touched.

Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, January 3, 2026, 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church Toccoa with The Reverend Dr. John Brown, The Reverend Brett Sanders and Mr. Ken White officiating.

The family will receive friends at the Acree-Davis Funeral Home on Friday, January 2, 2026, 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. and on Saturday from 12:30 p.m. until 1:30 p.m. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.acree-davisfh.com.

Interment will follow in the Toccoa City Cemetery with the Acree-Davis Funeral Home and Crematory in charge of the arrangements for Mr. John Alan Dickerson.

This announcement courtesy of the Strickland Funeral Home of Hartwell.