The Walton County community is remembering longtime Social Circle resident and World War II veteran Calvin “CK” Dickerson, who passed away on May 19, 2026, at the age of 101.
Known by friends and family simply as “CK,” Dickerson lived what many described as a life defined by service, hard work, friendship and quiet wisdom. A proud United States Army veteran, he served as a rifleman in Germany during World War II and was awarded the Bronze Star for his bravery.
Born Sept. 16, 1924, Dickerson grew up in Toccoa alongside seven siblings before answering the call to serve his country during the war. After returning home, he built a life centered around family and work, spending years employed by the railroad before becoming a truck driver hauling pipe through the winding mountain roads of Kentucky and Tennessee.
For more than four decades, Dickerson called Social Circle home, where he became a familiar and beloved figure in the community. Earlier in 2024, he was honored as Social Circle’s Grand Marshal for the city’s Independence Day Parade. His wife, Cealie Mae Dickerson, passed away in April 2024.
When Dickerson celebrated his 100th birthday last year, his daughter, Donna Herndon, described him as someone whose spirit defied his age.
“My Daddy is the coolest thing since peanut butter,” Herndon said at the time. “He would pass for 80 I would think. He’s a wonderful dad. I am so blessed.”
Friends and family remember Dickerson for his love of hunting and fishing and for the friendships he built over a lifetime. Those closest to him say he rarely raised his voice except in laughter and always carried a positive outlook on life.
His advice for longevity was simple and heartfelt:
“Don’t worry. It’s going to work out like it’s meant to and worrying will not change the outcome, it will only make you older.”
Family members say he also believed in staying active and making the most of each day — “stay busy during the daylight hours and save your chair for after dark.”
According to his obituary, Dickerson is survived by his daughters, Donna Herndon and Gayle Pritchard; grandchildren Heather Pritchard, Tiara Moore and husband Micheal, Michael Daniel and Jim Hill; great-grandchildren Macie, Raelynn and Molly; nephew Freeman Dickerson; and numerous extended family members and close friends.
A graveside service honoring Dickerson’s life will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 22, at East View Cemetery.
In the days following his passing, Dickerson’s family shared that his life insurance policy had expired after he turned 100, leaving the family without coverage for funeral expenses. A GoFundMe campaign has been established to help provide a burial and graveside service honoring the decorated veteran’s life and legacy.
“We want to honor CK with a comfortable place to rest and a small graveside service that reflects his remarkable life and service to our country,” the family shared.
As friends, neighbors and fellow community members reflect on Dickerson’s remarkable 101 years, many say his greatest legacy was not only his military service, but the kindness, resilience and steady presence he offered to everyone fortunate enough to know him.
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