October 08, 1936 – July 25, 2014
Selva Jean (Broadwater) Dickerson, 77 of Blackville, South Carolina died at her home on July 25, 2014 after an extended period of illness. She was the daughter of Harry and Vespa Wynona (Broadwater) Broadwater who raised her in the western hills of Grantsville, MD. She was the wife of Dale Leroy Dickerson Sr., who preceded her in death after 30 years of marriage. Surviving are their six children and their spouses: John Walter Dickerson of Greys, SC, Dale Leroy Dickerson Jr. (Ruthie) of Denmark, SC, Susan Fern Dickerson and Ralph Eugene Dickerson (Ruth) of Blackville, SC, Michael Lee Dickerson (Birdie) of Batesburg, SC, and Karen Louise Dickerson of Charleston, SC. She has 11 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren although she was also known as “mom” and “grandma” to many who knew and loved her. Selva Jean is survived by two brothers, Reid Broadwater of Prospect, VA and Jerry Broadwater of Linden, TN. She is also survived by three sisters, Maxine Hare of Streetsboro, Ohio, Connie Hewitt of Linden, TN and Joann Broadwater of Virginia Beach, VA; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law. In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Stewart Broadwater and Otis Broadwater; two sisters, Inez Bittinger and Lola Bittinger. A longtime resident of Barnwell County, Selva Jean was well known in the community through her 24 years of employment at Brooker’s Hardware and Gifts in Denmark, SC. Selva Jean derived great pleasure from the outdoors, flowers, birds, and old fashioned gospel hymns. She was a member of the Barnwell Mennonite Church. Visitation with the family will be Monday afternoon from three-thirty until five-thirty and six-thirty until eight at the Barnwell Mennonite Church. A celebration of life service will be held at ten am Tuesday, July 29, 2014 at the Barnwell Mennonite Church with burial in the church cemetery. Her family wishes to acknowledge and give special thanks to Halcyon Hospice, Aiken, SC for their love and tender care during this difficult time. Memorial Contributions can be made to the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), 1001 North Fairfax Street Suite 400, Alexandria, VA 22314. Mrs. Dickerson also believed in giving Surcee’s (a small surprise gift for no known reason). Please consider doing an act of kindness in her name. Hug a stranger, bake bread to deliver to a shut-in, hold the door for someone, give to the homeless man you pass some money and the benefit of the doubt, send a card, make a phone call or wrap a small token of your love to give to someone unexpectedly. It is in doing these small things (Selva’s Surcees) that her memory will remain alive.