Thomas Dedrick

SAWYERVILLE Sgt. Thomas Dedrick, age 88, of Sawyerville, died April 20, 2009, at home. Services will be 1 p.m. Saturday at Bass Tabernacle A.M.E. Church in Akron with Rev. James Carter officiating. Burial will follow in Dedrick Family Cemetery with full military honors and Washington & Paige Mortuary of Greensboro directing. Visitation will be today from 12 to 7 p.m. at the mortuary. The body will lie in state from 10 to 12 noon at St. Stephens Baptist Church and 30 minutes prior to services at Bass Tabernacle A.M.E. Church.

Mr. Dedrick, a life-long resident of Hale County, died at his home on Monday.

He served in the U.S. Army from 1942-46. He was discharged with honors, receiving such medals as the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with Bronze Star, Good Conduct Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.

He was employed by Central Foundry in Holt, Ala. for 28 years and The University of Alabama for 10 years. He was also a community barber and a farmer. His love of hunting and baseball were widely known. He played and coached baseball for the Melton Clowns for many years.

Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Mrs. Sarah Alice Dedrick; 11 children and step-children, Richard Coleman of Sawyerville, Ala., Josephine Holtzclaw of Detroit, Mich., Albert Jones of Huntsville Ala., Herman (Daisy) Coleman of Dayton, Ohio, Mary Sue Williams of Atlanta, Ga., Frances (Willie) Maple of Southfield, Mich., Ann (James) Plenty of Huntsville, Ala., Thomas Wayne (Angelita) Dedrick of Tuscaloosa, Ala., Patricia (Fredrick) Lloyd and Christine Dedrick, both of Huntsville, Ala., Roderick Dedrick of Tuscaloosa, Ala.; 33 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, and seven great great-grandchildren.