John Alan Dickerson

John Alan Dickerson,
Sr., 79, passed away on
Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025.
The son of Fay and Laura
Elizabeth McCurley Dick-
erson, of Hartwell, Ga.,
John was born in Ander-
son, S.C., on Aug. 23, 1946.
He graduated from Hart
County High School in
1964 and went on to attend
Clemson University,
where he earned his un-
dergraduate degree in
1968.
While at Clemson, John
served as president of the
Blue Key National Honor
Society, president of the
Clemson University Stu-
dent Senate, and vice pres-
ident of the social fraterni-
ty Kappa Delta Chi, which
later became Sigma Nu.
He was also inducted into
Tiger Brotherhood and
Who's Who, honors be-
stowed on only a handful
of students each year. Fol-
lowing 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 sweet-
heart, Martha Paula Maret
of Hartwell, Ga.
John completed law
school at the University of
Georgia in 1971, and short-
ly thereafter, he and Paula
moved to Toccoa, Ga., the
place they would proudly
call home for more than
five decades. John joined
the law firm that was then
McClure, Ramsay & Stru-
ble and is currently
known as McClure, Ram-
say & 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 Geor-
gia Municipal Association
City Attorney's Section.
John was a true master
of the law and enjoyed an
extraordinary legal ca-
reer, receiving numerous
statewide and local hon-
ors. In 2013, he was award-
ed the Chief Justice
Thomas O. Marshall Pro-
fessionalism Award by the
State Bar of Georgia. In
2016, he received the Tra-
dition of Excellence
Award, one of the State
Bars highest honors, pre-
sented 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 inau-
gural recipient of the
Judge Robert B. Struble
Professionalism Award for
the Mountain Judicial Cir-
cuit.
John also had the great
honor of being inducted
into the American College
of Trial Lawyers, an invi-
tation-only fellowship of
exceptional trial lawyers
who have demonstrated
the highest standards of
trial advocacy, integrity,
professionalism, and colle-
giality.
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 cher-
ished memories. John was
also an incredible father
and father-in-law to his
three sons and daughters-
in-law: Alan and Kim, of
Marietta, Ga.; Cory and
Jennifer, of Hartwell, Ga.;
and David and Misty of
Gainesville, Ga. He was
preceded in death by his
parents and infant son,
Brooks Walker Dickerson.
John was "Paw" to sev-
en grandchildren he loved
and adored: Maret, Emily,
Ansley Grace, Will, John-
ny, Madison, and Ethan.
Words cannot describe the
impact John had on each
of their lives and the ex-
ample he set for their fam-
ilies. He is survived by his
dear sister, Carol Dicker-
son Cobb, and brother-in-
law, Douglas Cobb.
In addition to his ex-
traordinary legal career
and always being present
for his family, John was a
devoted community lead-
er, 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 impor-
tant community leader-
ship roles.
John received the Dis-
tinguished Citizen Award
presented by the North-
east Georgia Council of
the Boy Scouts of America,
was honored as the Out-
standing 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 Administra-
tive Board, taught Sunday
School, and served faith-
fully in numerous other
capacities.
Pallbearers include
Sonny Allgood, Dennis
Cathey, Clay Fisher, Wey-
mon Forrester, Scott
Hardigree, Bobby Hob-
good, Billy Kidd, Dick
Simmons and Bill Smith.
Honorary pallbearers
include Chuck and Jean
Larsen, Herbert and Mar-
garet Lowery, Buster and
Vicki Smith, current and
former partners and staff
of the Law Firm of Mc-
Clure, Ramsay & Dicker-
son, City of Toccoa com-
missioners and employees,
and members of the Moun-
tain Judicial Circuit Bar
Association.
In lieu of flowers, dona-
tions can be made to Toc-
coa First Methodist
Church at 333 E. Tugalo
Street, Toccoa, Georgia
30577; Toccoa-Stephens
County Public Library at
53 W. Savannah Street,
Toccoa, Georgia 30577; or
Georgia Legal Services (a
non-profit providing free
legal assistance to low-in-
come individuals) at 705
Washington Street, SW 1,
Gainesville, Georgia 30501.
John's legacy of integri-
ty, service, and devotion to
family will live on through
the countless lives he
touched.
Funeral services will be
held Saturday, Jan. 3,
2026, 2 p.m. at First Baptist
Church Toccoa with the
Rev. Dr. John Brown, the
Rev. Brett Sanders and
Mr. Ken White officiating.
The family will receive
friends at the Acree-Davis
Funeral Home on Friday,
Jan. 2, 2026, 3-6 p.m. and
on Saturday from 12:30-
1:30 p.m. Online condo-
lences may be left for the
family at www.acree-
davisfh.com.
Interment will follow in
the Toccoa City Cemetery
with the Acree-Davis Fu-
neral Home and Cremato-
ry in charge of the ar-
rangements for Mr. John
Alan Dickerson.