Reba Hardee Dickey

Reba Lily Hardee Dickey was welcomed into the arms of Jesus on November 25, 2024 at Oxley Park Nursing and Rehab Center in Lyons.

She was born in Tattnall County on Jan 3, 1925 to Henry and Sula Murphy Hardee.  She grew up in the Cedar Creek community and attended school there until her high school years and graduated from Collins High School in 1941.

She married William Horace (Bill) Dickey on January 17, 1948, and they were soul mates until his death August 4,2017.

She was the picture of a true Southern lady.  She always saw the good in everyone and never had a harsh word to say.  You were always welcomed to her home with love and plenty of food.  She and her husband were pillars of the Hillview community and affectionately known as Aunt Reba and Uncle Bill to all the neighbors.  They always had a bountiful garden that was shared with family and neighbors, and summers would find her canning beans or putting vegetables in the freezer.

She worked beside her husband on the farm raising cattle and growing row crops in addition to working outside the home.  She retired from Collins Elementary School as a paraprofessional June1, 2000.  She never had children of her own but loved all the children she came into contact with.

She was a member of Cedar Creek Primitive Baptist Church, which she loved dearly.  She especially loved the beautiful singing and the dinners on the grounds which allowed her to cook and serve others.  She missed going to church and being part of that family after her health began to fail.

After her husband’s death, she remained in the home.  She was blessed with angels disguised as sitters that allowed her to stay home until she entered the nursing home in August 2023.  The family thanks these angels known as Katie Scott, Sandra Smith, Tammy Harrell , Gloria Major and Barbara Holmes.  Gloria also sat with her at the nursing home for the last months of her life.

She is predeceased by her husband, William H. (Bill) Dickey and her siblings; Edna Glisson, Myrtice Hardee, Roy Hardee, Leon Hardee, Horace Hardee and Tressie Anderson.

She is survived by a niece, Joyce Evans of Collins, and nephews, Glyn Thrift (Becky) of Metter, Jerry (Jane) Hardee of Collins and Dale (Connie) Thrift of Hartwell. She also leaves behind her beloved dog, Punkin, who is being cared for by one of her sitters.

Funeral services will be held at Cedar Creek Primitive Baptist Church near Collins at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 30.  Visitation with family will start at 10:00 a.m. at the church and last until the funeral time.   She will be laid to rest beside her husband at Evergreen Baptist Church cemetery near Metter.

Remembrances may be sent to Cedar Creek Primitive Church.  The best way to honor her memory would be to visit someone in a nursing home and let them know they are still loved and needed.

Kennedy Funeral Homes, Cobbtown Chapel, of Cobbtown is in charge of the arrangements.