Helen Oates Dickson

Helen Oates Dickson, 66, of Taylors, SC, died Tuesday, August 12, 2008 at her residence. She was a daughter of the late John Wesley Dickson, Sr and Helen O Dickson of Marion, SC. Ms. Dickson received a BA in Psychology from Winthrop College and completed her graduate work in Social Studies at Converse College and the University of Virginia, where she was awarded the Dean's Fellowship by the School of Education and taught social studies education. She was a distinguished educator for more than 32 years with her teaching career beginning at Greenville Senior High School where she was a dedicated teacher and Department Chair of Social Studies. She was then a Consultant in Social Studies and Drug Education, serving as the first Drug Education Coordinator for Greenville County School GCS. She was instrumental in the development of training programs for teachers regarding pharmacology and drug abuse prevention, establishing a liaison with law enforcement and other community agencies. She also served as an Adjunct Professor at USC in drug abuse education and received the Schoolman's Medal for drug abuse prevention by the Freedom Foundation of Valley Forge. She later served as Curriculum Consultant for K-12. Ms. Dickson founded the GCS Council for Social Studies and was appointed to the Commission on Education by Gov. Dick Riley. A skilled and successful grant writer, Ms. Dickson wrote the initial grants for GCS District which brought nationally known consultants to the district during desegregation. Her human relations workshops played a key role in preparing both teachers and the community for the successful transition to a fully integrated school system. The program received national recognition for its "grace and style." For all of her work, she received the Outstanding Women of the Year award, based on the nomination by Mayor Bill Workman. Ms. Dickson was the State's first in pioneering a effort to teach courses for secondary and college level by distance education for credit. She also served as an Adult Education teacher and supervisor for GCS. She was a Fulbright Scholar in Japan, Hawaii and India. Her final educational post until retirement was Assistant to the Superintendent and Elementary Principal for Bamberg District Two. She wrote numerous grants for programs and training which contributed to significant improvements in test scores in the county. Ms. Dickson was preceded in death by a brother, Maxcy Dickson. Surviving are a sister, Ann Hollerbach, her husband, Don, and son, Michael of Mt. Pleasant, SC; her brother, John W. Dickson, Jr, his wife, Sandi, and children, Jennifer, Jonathan and Jason of Anderson, SC; and her sister-in-law, Nancy Dickson and her children, Sarah and Wesley of Wayne, PA. Ms. Dickson was an active member of St. Mary's Catholic Church while in Greenville where she was active in the prayer community and was a devoted Associate to the Order of the Adrian Dominicans. Recitation of the Rosary will be Sunday, August 17, 2008 at 4:30 p.m. with visitation to follow until 6:30 p.m. at Thomas McAfee Funeral Home, Downtown. The funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, August 18, 2008 at 12 Noon at St. Mary's Catholic Church. Burial will be held in Rose Hill Cemetery, Marion, SC on Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at 10:00 a.m.