William Josiah Dicks

Funeral service for William “Bill” J. Dicks will be held at 2:00pm on Friday, May 28, 2021 at Laird Funeral Home with Bro. Tim Brewer and Bro. Steve Ewton officiating.  Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery.  Visitation will be held from 5:00pm – 7:00pm on Thursday, May 27, 2021 at Laird Funeral Home.

William “Bill” J. Dicks was born on November 11, 1938 in Augusta, Georgia to parents William F. Dicks and Jessie Maie Bozeman Dicks.  After their passing, Bill was orphaned at the age of seven, and raised by his uncle, Hamilton Dicks in Barnwell, South Carolina.  He later moved to the peaceful countryside of Pleasant Hill, Louisiana with his aunt, Caroline Bozeman, where he learned to appreciate the art of gardening and the community’s Battle of Pleasant Hill Annual Reenactment and Festival. An all-star basketball player, Bill graduated from high school and continued to play ball into college.

In August of 1958, Bill enlisted in the United States Navy where he proudly served four years as an air traffic controller on the aircraft carrier, The USS Wasp. Upon discharge, Bill continued to serve in the U.S. Navy Reserves for another two years. 

Bill spent his civilian years as a proud husband and father. He loved golfing, basketball, hunting and fishing with his children, Billy and Brooke, and devoted countless hours to coaching and leading their teams to championships. Bill established his career as a District Manager for Southern Life Insurance, which later became United Insurance Company of America, where he retired after 32 years of service. While working hard to build his career, Bill met and married the love of his life, Henrietta.  Bill and Henrietta were blessed with 25 years of happy memories and wedded bliss.

Bill shared his love of John Wayne movies and all kinds of music with his family.  He loved singing and always had the perfect song for every occasion. Bill was a man of strong faith who especially loved worshipping and honoring Jesus with his wife and church family. He never met a stranger and welcomed everyone with a big smile, a hug, and a compliment. He was a fierce LSU fan and could always be found with Henrietta at his side enjoying his favorites at Kinfolks Restaurant while sporting his newest LSU shirt and his favorite U.S. Navy baseball cap. 

Bill peacefully departed this life on Monday, May 24 in the comfort of his home and surrounded by loved ones.  Bill was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend who will be missed dearly.  The family offers special thanks to Dr. Bachireddy, Dr. Huber and the ICU team at CHI St. Luke’s Medical Center for their care and dedication.

Bill is survived by his wife, Henrietta (Maddox) Dicks of Nacogdoches; son, Billy Dicks and wife, Stacy and daughter, Brooke Dicks all of Nacogdoches; grandson, Matthew Dicks of Nacogdoches; step-children, Jim Trahan, Jr. and wife, Allison of Austin and Christie Barto and husband, Jeremy of Sour Lake; step-grandchildren, John Lucas, Jessie Lucas, Colten Barto, Keegan Barto and Henry Trahan; brother, Alan Dicks of Ohio and sister, Christine Hartzell of Florida; sisters-in-law, Brenda Maddox and Lois Trevathan; nieces and nephews, Bobby Dicks, Frank Dicks, David Dicks, Pam Rawlinson, Mary Bode and Dovima Peluzzo along with many others who loved him dearly.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Robert Dicks and Theodocia and Joseph Arkus; brothers-in-law, Robert Hartzell, Joe Trevathan, R.V. Maddox and W.F. Maddox; sisters-in-law, Cletta Dicks and Imo Jean Marze.

Pallbearers for the service will be Billy Dicks, Robert Jenkins, Chris King, Jeff Sammons, Dyer Howard, Mitch Martin, Brad Boatman, and Robert Wilson. Honorary pallbearers are Bobby Dicks and Charles Ray Anderson.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of William Josiah Dicks, please visit our floral store.