Willie Anna Dickerson Gatlin

“Weeping may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning.”- Psalm 30:5

Willie Anna Dickerson Gatlin, known as “Toodles” to those wholoved her, age 90, found her joy at 8:30 a.m., Sunday, Nov. 1,2009, while resting at home.

Visitation will be Monday from 5 until 8 p.m. at Jones FamilyFuneral Services in McComb with visitation again on Tuesday from 10a.m. until services at 11 a.m. at the First Baptist Church ofSummit. The Revs. Larry LeBlanc and John Hogsett will officiate.Burial will be in the Johnston Chapel United Methodist ChurchCemetery in Summit.

Mrs. Gatlin was born Sept. 11, 1919, in Lincoln County. She wasthe daughter of the late William Scott and Nannie Jo LaneSandidge.

Mrs. Gatlin was a homemaker. She was devoted to her Lord andfamily and served both with selfless love. She was a devoted wife,mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend. HerChristian example inspired all those who knew her. She served atJohnston Chapel United Methodist Church as a Sunday school teacher,youth leader and church treasurer for many years. In her lateryears, she joined her daughters at First Baptist Church of Summitwhere she was a faithful member and enjoyed the fellowship of herSunday school class. She was a gifted writer of poetry and shortstories. Her stories have touched generations and will beremembered by her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildrenfor many years to come. The joy of the Lord proved to be herstrength. Strength and honor have been her clothing. Her childrenarise up and call her blessed and will honor her memory as wecelebrate her life.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her only son, RonaldFulton Dickerson; her beloved husband of 37 years, Thomas FultonDickerson; her second husband, E.L. Gatlin; three brothers, RexSandidge, Leroy Sandidge and Fred Sandidge; and one sister, RubyJackson.

Mrs. Gatlin is survived by her four daughters and their spouses,Diane and husband, David Hogsett, Martha and husband, Tommy Smith,Jane and husband, Barry Reeves, and Peggy and husband, Luke Brewer;a sister, Josephine Enlow; her 13 grandchildren, Rhonda Hart andhusband, Dale, Roxanne Baker and husband, Keith, Carl Hogsett andwife, Diane, John Hogsett and wife, Marianne, Mark Hogsett andwife, Heather, Trecia Phillips and husband, Will, Tammy Dozier andhusband, Woody, Amy Halstead and husband, Andy, Marianna Reeves,Keith Reeves and wife, Alisha, Fulton Brewer and wife, Courtney,Missy Carruth and husband, Jeff, Kristen Hemphill and husband,Carey; her 28 great-grandchildren, Josh and Jackson Baker, EllaHaynes Kimbrell, Emma, Gabby, Olivia and Luke Hogsett, Isaac, Mary,Irene, Jude, Maximus and Georgia Hogsett, Will, Martha Ellen, AnnaGrace, Paul, and Luke Phillips, Gus and Cole Dozier, Sierra, Bradenand Drew Camden Halstead, Blaine Reeves, Hasting, Brewer andCarlyle Carruth and Sydney Brewer; her sisters-in-law, ElouiseCampbell, Donald Yarborough and Martha Jackson; and longtime friendand caregiver, Linda Armstrong.

Pallbearers will be John Hogsett, Fulton Brewer, Keith Reeves,Will Phillips, Andy Halstead, Woody Dozier, Jeff Carruth, CareyHemphill and Dale Hart.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Johnston Chapel UMCor the First Baptist Church of Summit Building Fund.