Mrs. Veatrice Dickey

Mary Bertha Veatrice Miller was born to the union of Marshall Miller and Hattie Miller on February 1, 1925 in Ripley, Mississippi. She was the oldest of eleven children. Both parents preceded her in death as well as brothers: Davage, Cherault, Reuben and Woodrow; sisters: Lorainge and Aster. 

Mary Bertha married Charles Vernor and to this union one child was born, Maxine. Soon after, her and her daughter moved up north and settled in St. Louis, MO.  As a Northerner, Mary Bertha changed her name to Veatrice Bertha. She became the middle passage for several of her younger brothers, sisters, and other relatives as they moved to St. Louis.  

Veatrice was married to the late Sylvester Dickey for 41 years. Together they raised Maxine. Both husband and daughter preceded her in death. Veatrice joined Union Memorial United Methodist Church where she served in the United Methodist Women’s Margaret Davis Bowen group, Black Methodist for Church Renewal (choir), Pastor’s Parish Relations, and as a Trustee.    

Although Veatrice was only able to complete the 8th grade, she progressed such that she soon became a Nurses Aide, and later became a Realtor for Century 21. Due to her Realtor savvy, Veatrice acquired two homes throughout her life that became family heirlooms (Rolla Pl. and Milan), eventually one was sold. She was a big proponent of education as all of her children, grand-children and great-grandchildren have some level of college education - which includes a mixture of associates, bachelors, masters, and doctorate. 

Veatrice’s greatest achievement was the birth of her daughter, Maxine. Determined to have a baby after four miscarriages and doctors telling her the only way she would be able to carry to full term would be for her to stay in bed 80% of the time of her pregnancy. Veatrice endured many days of struggling to carry her child to term, defying the odds and the doctor’s subtleness to abort. We, the three living generations are proud to call Veatrice Dickey a GIFT. If it had not been for the Lord on Veatrice’s side, we would not be here today. We, the three living generations, boasting Veatrice’s “sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us because God poured out his love” and blessed Veatrice on February 18, 1944 with a baby girl, Maxine. 

Veatrice leaves to cherish her memories: Grandchildren: John Powers, Jr. (Lisa), Stacey Mims (Lynn), and Charon Powers. Great Grandchildren: Angela Powers, Charon Powers II, John Powers III, Corinne Embree, and Kristin Bailey (Asa). Great-Great Grandchildren: Brooklynn Powers, Lyric Powers, Austin Bailey, Gabriel Byrd, Karson Bailey, Asa Bailey, Jr., and Jyasi Powers (born Nov-19, 2020). Sisters: Ruby Henley, Zelia Carr (Frank), Aurelia Miller, Sherlean Scarbrough (Alvin), and a host of  nieces, nephews, and cousins.