LANCASTER, SC ~ The Reverend Richard Wayne Dickson,1940-2022. Wayne, or Preacher Wayne as he was known to many, left this earthly life and went to be with Jesus Saturday evening. He was 82 years old.

Wayne was born in Clover, SC. His family relocated to China Grove, NC during World War II as his father went to work at Cannon Textile Mills. Wayne graduated from Landis High School and Catawba College. In 1965 he received his Master of Divinity from Erskine Seminary in Due West, SC. Thus began his life in ministry.

Over the course of his ministry, Wayne served several congregations. He was first called to Hopewell ARP in Covington, Ga. A few years later, he was called to Shiloh ARP and then to New Cut Presbyterian, both in Lancaster, SC. Though officially retired from ministry, he served as a supply pastor within the Providence Presbytery and to several local churches until 2021. All total he spent 56 years in service to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. While serving at Shiloh, Wayne was also blessed with the opportunity to go on mission trips to Pakistan, Haiti, and Mexico.

Wayne always enjoyed woodworking and working on engines, and he excelled at both. Over the years he remodeled his own home and built and installed kitchen cabinets for several other families as well as rebuilding and refinishing Cub Cadet lawn mowers. He further worked as a maintenance engineer at Springs Memorial Hospital for 14 years. And it's safe to say no one will forget his barbecue anytime soon! He truly knew the value of hard work and enjoyed being busy.

Wayne and his first wife were blessed with a daughter and 2 sons. This led to the later blessing of a son-in-law, 2 daughters-in-law, 7 grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren. After meeting and marrying his second wife, he was further blessed with a stepdaughter, another son-in-law and 2 more grandchildren. Upon his marriage to his current wife, his received a final familial blessing with a stepson, another daughter-in-law, and another grandchild. He loved each and every member of his family and was loved by them in return.

After retiring, Wayne had a little more time to relax. He and his wife enjoyed traveling. They traveled to the beach, to Georgia to visit old friends and to beach music concerts with friends, but his favorite getaway was to the Tennessee mountains where he could attend gospel singing at Dollywood.

Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, his brother and sister-in-law, a son, his second wife, and his stepdaughter. He was loved and will be missed by all those by whom he is survived.

The Celebration of Life Service for Wayne will be 11:00 am Thursday, May 12, 2022 at First ARP Church officiated by Rev. Kyle Sims.  Burial will follow at Shiloh ARP Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 10:00 - 11:00 am, one hour prior to the service, in the church parlor at First ARP Church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First ARP Church in Lancaster, SC where Wayne was a member at the time of his death.