Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am on Friday, April 15, 2022 at First Baptist Church of Columbia for Dr. Hugh L. Dickens, 88, of Columbia, who passed away Tuesday, April 12, 2022. Interment will be at 1:00 pm on Friday, April 15, 2022 at Magnolia Cemetery in Lucedale with Dr. Tommy King officiating the services. Legacy Ensemble will provide special music. Visitation will be held from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm on Thursday, April 14, 2022 at Hathorn Funeral Home in Columbia, and from 9:00 am to 10:00 am on Friday, April 15, 2022 at First Baptist Church of Columbia.

Dr. Dickens loved spending time with his wife of 42 years and his family. He was a Veteran of the U.S. Army, and a Graduate of USM with Bachelors and Doctorate Degrees. At USM, he was the recipient of the Phil Hardin Scholarship Award for Graduate Studies. William Carey University honored Dr. Dickens with a study room under his name at the school of Osteopathic Medicine.  Dr. Dickens taught Sunday School for over 69 years and also served as a Chairman of Deacons at Heidelberg Baptist, University Baptist, and First Baptist Church of Columbia. Dr. Dickens also served on the Board of Directors at William Carey University for 18 years. He was a lifelong Rotarian, receiving the Paul Harris Award for Service.

In retirement, Dr. Dickens served Mississippi State University as a Field Representative for their PREPS programs.  He was an avid traveler covering every State in the Union and most of the European countries, but his favorite place to travel was to the family farm in Covington County, Mississippi.

He was preceded in death by his Father, Melton Dickens; Mother, Bertha M. Dickens; one Daughter, Lynn Roberts; two Brothers, William Dickens, Alvin Dickens; four Sisters, Clarene Vickery, Helen Morgan, Isabell DeShields, and Dorothy Kilgore.

He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Jeanette H. Dickens of Columbia; one Son, Reid Ware (Beth) of Florence, AL; three Sisters, Ona Mae McNair of Collins, Louise Smith of Collins, Minnie King (James) of Collins; five Grandchildren and four Great-Grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Reid Ware III, Richard Davis, Edward Huff, Ben Brown, Gary Bridges, and Dr. Pat Sanford. Honorary pallbearers will be the Hugh L. Dickens Sunday School Class at FBC, Columbia.

Hathorn Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Friends may sign an online guest register book at www.hathornfuneralhome.com