Category: 1933

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Fred Irvin “Silent Fred” Dickerson ’33

Fred Irvin “Silent Fred” Dickerson, 106, of Mars Hill, NC passed away August 21, 2017 at John F. Keever, Jr. Solace Center in Asheville.

A native of Greensboro, Mr. Dickerson was born May 6, 1911 to the late Rufus Raymond Dickerson (1955) and Blanche Eva Welker Dickerson (1986).

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his wife, Doris Mae Dickerson; brothers, Herman Dickerson, Glenn Dickerson, Sir Douglass Dickerson, and Clayton Dickerson.

Mr. Dickerson was a graduate of Reidsville High School, earned his BA from Davidson College, and his MS from Louisiana State University. Mr. Dickerson served in the United States Navy during WWII.

He retired from his career in education where he was a college coach and a high school principal. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church.

He enjoyed music, and many sports such as tennis, track, football, basketball, and golf. He was a member of the Disabled American Veterans Commanders Club, the National Arbor Day Foundation, United States Tennis Association, AARP, and was a Special Olympics Partner. He loved all children.

Survivors include his children, Fred M. Dickerson of Summerfield, FL, Doris Jean Haynes of Jonesborough, TN, and Patricia Ann Dickerson of Mars Hill; grandchildren, Mark Dickerson (Jacque) of Clayton, Ryan Dickerson of Apex, Dena Pyne (Doug) of Katy, TX, Kathryn Haynes of Jonesborough, TN, and Rebecca Haynes of Jonesborough, TN; great-grandchildren, Austin Tate, Payton Dickerson of Clayton, Rachel Pyne of Katy, TX, and Andrew Pyne of Katy, TX; nieces and nephews, Lawrence Dickerson (Cynthia) of Statesville, Thomas Dickerson (Marissa) of Statesville, James Dickerson (Michelle) of Hickory, Diane Patino of Pooler, GA, and Becky Whitlock (Bill) of Greensboro.

A memorial service will be held 1:00 PM Tuesday, August 29, 2017 at Banner Elk Presbyterian Church with Rev. Feild Russell officiating. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude’s Childrens Hospital.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff of CarePartners Solace Hospice.

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William Blair Gwyn ’33

Mr. William Blair Gwyn, age 102, of North Wilkesboro died unexpectedly on Tuesday, March 25, 2014, at his home. A memorial service will be held Saturday at 2:00 p.m. at North Wilkesboro Presbyterian Church with Rev. Dr. Benton J. Trawick officiating. The family will receive friends after the service in the church fellowship hall. A private burial will be held at Mountlawn Memorial Park. Mr. Gwyn was born November 25, 1911, to Richard Walter and Tate Blair Gwyn. He graduated from Davidson College in 1933 with a bachelor of science degree in political science and a minor in economics. He was vice-president of his senior class, member of the varsity track team, and member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He was on Davidson’s Board of Trustees and the board’s Executive Committee from 1971 to 1981 and served as class chair for numerous fundraising campaigns at the college.

In 1983, he was presented the Alumni Service Award for distinguished service to Davidson. Mr. Gwyn was a lifelong member of North Wilkesboro Presbyterian Church, where he served as treasurer, as an elder, and as representative to regional and national denominational meetings. His career in banking began in 1933 at Bank of North Wilkesboro where he remained until his retirement (later North Carolina National Bank) in 1963. He remained a board member of that bank for many years. With his father, he founded Gwyn’s Insurance Agency in 1938 (now Sentinel Insurance). Mr. Gwyn was a principal in Forest Furniture Co. and was an executive at American Furniture Co. (later American-Drew) in North Wilkesboro until 1971.

He served in the United States Army Signal Corps during World War II, receiving four battle stars for service at Normandy, Ardennes, Battle of the Bulge and Rhineland. Gwyn served four terms as a North Wilkesboro commissioner, two terms on the North Wilkesboro School Board and on the Wilkes YMCA Board of Directors from 1946 to 1980, including two terms as president. He served three terms as a director of Wilkes Chamber of Commerce. He was a Boy Scout assistant scoutmaster and scoutmaster in the 1940s, was a charter member and president of the North Wilkesboro Lions Club and served on the Wilkes Adult Developmental Activity Program (ADAP) board. A co-founder of Oakwoods Country Club in 1953, he was among the original members of the Tar Heel State Seniors Golf Association.

He is survived by: his wife, Florence Guigou Gwyn of the home; two daughters, Carolyn Gwyn Bell of North Wilkesboro, Roz “Petesy” Gwyn Schmidt of Greensboro; two sons, Bill Gwyn of Raleigh, Mike Gwyn (Lynn) of Winston-Salem; six grandchildren: Andy Bell (Amanda) of Kansas City, Mo, Martin Schmidt (Alexandra) of St. Louis, Mo., Karl Schmidt of Atlanta, Ga., Michael, Katherine and Rebecca Gwyn, of Winston-Salem; two great-grandchildren: Meredith Bell and Gwendolyn Bell of Kansas City, Mo.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Matthew 25 Fund, c/o North Wilkesboro Presbyterian Church, 804 E Street, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659.

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Thomas Price Caldwell ’33

Thomas Price Caldwell ’33, a longtime Hattiesburg, Miss., resident and retired attorney for Exxon, died Sept. 18, 2012, at Provision Living, where he had been a resident for three years. He died two days after celebrating his 100th birthday in the company of most of his family and a great many of his friends and fellow residents. Caldwell was born in Yazoo City, Miss., Sept. 16, 1912, the second son and fourth child of Dr. and Mrs. William James Caldwell, D.D. His father was the minister of the First Presbyterian Church of Yazoo City from 1911 to 1945.

Caldwell earned his B.A. from Davidson in 1933 and a law degree from the Jefferson School of Law in Louisville, Ky., which later merged with the University of Louisville School of Law. Later, he earned additional law credits at the University of Michigan. After serving as a law clerk for Judge Holmes of the 5th Circuit Court in New Orleans for five years, he joined Humble Oil Company, later Exxon-Mobil, in Hattiesburg, and became expert in the field of lease law. He also served as a consultant for the company in New Orleans between 1961 and 1975. He was a member of the Mississippi Bar Association and over the years provided much of the language of the Mississippi code in the field of lease law.

He was well known as a golfer and once held the course record at Hattiesburg Country Club. He boasted five holes-in-one during his career and was awarded a plaque for a “memorable round,” having shot 78 over 18 holes at the age of 91. He was also known as a raconteur and wit. Everyone who heard him speak or read his letters knew him to be in love with words, and his ability to quote lines of poetry from Shakespeare and Tennyson was legendary. His wife, Helen Frances Clay, died in 2006.

He is survived by six children, Thomas Price Caldwell, Jr. ’62 (Alice Carol), 403 Gillespie St., Starkville, MS 39759, William Clay Caldwell (Livia), Delia Brown (Wayne), Jane Caldwell Rose (Jack), Margaret Elizabeth Preus (John), and Anne Avent Caldwell Schloemer (Doug). He also had 16 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. He always said his greatest accomplishment was his family.

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Thomas Price Caldwell ’33

Thomas Price Caldwell ’33, longtime Hattiesburg, Miss., resident and retired attorney for Exxon, died Sept. 18, 2012, at Provision Living, where he had been a resident for three years. He died two days after celebrating his 100th birthday in the company of most of his family and a great many of his friends and fellow residents. Caldwell was born in Yazoo City, Miss., Sept. 16, 1912, the second son and fourth child of Dr. and Mrs. William James Caldwell, D.D. His father was the minister of the First Presbyterian Church of Yazoo City from 1911 to 1945. Caldwell earned his B.A. from Davidson in 1933 and a law degree from the Jefferson School of Law in Louisville, Ky., which later merged with the University of Louisville School of Law. Later, he earned additional law credits at the University of Michigan. After serving as a law clerk for Judge Holmes of the 5th Circuit Court in New Orleans for five years, he joined Humble Oil Company, later Exxon-Mobil, in Hattiesburg, and became expert in the field of lease law. He also served as a consultant for the company in New Orleans between 1961 and 1975. He was a member of the Mississippi Bar Association and over the years provided much of the language of the Mississippi code in the field of lease law. He was well known as a golfer and once held the course record at Hattiesburg Country Club. He boasted five holes-in-one during his career and was awarded a plaque for a “memorable round,” having shot 78 over 18 holes at the age of 91. He was also known as a raconteur and wit. Everyone who heard him speak or read his letters knew him to be in love with words, and his ability to quote lines of poetry from Shakespeare and Tennyson was legendary. His wife, Helen Frances Clay, died in 2006. He is survived by six children, Thomas Price Caldwell, Jr. ’62 (Alice Carol), 403 Gillespie St., Starkville, MS 39759, William Clay Caldwell (Livia), Delia Brown (Wayne), Jane Caldwell Rose (Jack), Margaret Elizabeth Preus (John), and Anne Avent Caldwell Schloemer (Doug). He also had 16 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. He always said his greatest accomplishment was his family.

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The Reverend Joseph Graham Morrison III ’33

The Reverend Joseph Graham Morrison III ’33, died Jan. 26 at his home, The Woods at Holly Tree, in Wilmington, N.C. He was born Oct. 24, 1911, in Shelby, N.C., to the late Joseph Graham Morrison, Jr. and Pearl Gardner Morrison. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his loving wife of 68 years, Carolyn Craven Morrison, and two sons, Jackson Davis Morrison and Junius Watson Morrison. Morrison was the oldest of five children: Junius Morrison ’33, John Morrison, Margaret Morrison Guillette, and is survived by his sister, Anna Morrison Whiddon. He is also survived by one son, Joseph Graham Morrison IV ’62 (Traudy), 5808 Brookstone Cir., Acworth, GA 30101-4501; one daughter, Ann Morrison Keir (Danny); eight grandchildren, Ralph Morrison, Daniel Keir, Christopher Keir, Laura Morrison, Amy Morrison, Michelle Morrison, Jake Morrison, and Mike Morrison; and seven great-grandchildren.

Morrison was called to the ministry while in high school and enrolled in Davidson, graduating in 1933. His great-great-grandfather, Robert H. Morrison, was the first president of Davidson. He then entered Union Theological Seminary, graduating in 1936, and accepted a call to his first congregation near Richmond, Va., where he served for four years.

In November 1936, Morrison married Carolyn Craven, the love of his life. In 1941, while serving the Grove Presbyterian Church in Kenansville, N.C., Joe was called into active duty as an Army chaplain. He served for five and a half years of which 42 months were in combat duty in the South Pacific, sometimes presiding over funerals of up to 90 servicemen a day. He was honorably discharged in February 1946 as a major, receiving the American Defense Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal with two stars, and the APT Medal with two battle stars. Morrison served as pastor in Ronceverte, W.Va., for 16 years.

In 1965, he became the pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Wallace for 10 years before retiring. He continued to serve churches in the area, most recently Hopewell Presbyterian Church, and preached his last sermon there at the age of 97. His hobbies included hunting, baseball, and flying as a private pilot for 52 years. Dear friends and faith sustained the Morrisons all their lives.