Suffolk - Jan "Jay" Johnson Dickens, Jr. passed away unexpectedly on June 27, 2014. He is survived by his beloved children, Brooklyn and Gatling Dickens; parents, Jan and Joan Dickens of Suffolk, VA; grandmother, Florence Whitley, his aunt Shirley Powell (Wayne Edwards) of Franklin, VA; his uncle Julian Dickens (Dixie) of Newport, NC; his aunt Sue Fry (Tom) of Raleigh, NC; cousins, Parrish Dickens (Brent Cardwell) of Fuquay Varina, NC and Jed Dickens (Courtney) of Garner, NC and many friends and acquaintances.

Jay was preceded in death by his grandfathers, Garnet Whitley, Dick Taylor, Perry Dickens, Lloyd Vann and his grandmother Shirley (Mimi) Vann, who he caringly tended to in her last years.
Jay was a loving and devoted father, who dedicated his life to his children. He was happiest while caring for Brooklyn and Gatling – they were his pride and joy.

The funeral will be held at 11:00am, Wednesday, July 2, 2014 at Buckhorn Baptist Church, Hwy 258, Como, NC. The Reverend Scott Cornette will officiate. The burial will be in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends at Wright Funeral Home, 206 W. Fourth Ave., Franklin, VA from 6 to 8pm, Tuesday, July 1, 2014 and suggest that memorial donations in memory of Jay be made to the River of Life Church, c/o Eric Beach, 113 Kings Ln, Franklin, VA 23851.