(Due to Covid-19 concerns, all who attend the Funeral Service are REQUIRED to wear a face mask and practice social distancing)
Arsie Ruth Grant Dickson was born to the union of Rev. Dr. Wesley Grant, Sr., and Dr. Arsie Ruth “Hon” Miller Grant on September 9, 1944, in Asheville, NC. She departed this earthly life and transcended to her Heavenly home on Sunday, April 3, 2022, at Mission Hospital. She was a lifelong resident of Asheville, NC.
She was a product of Asheville City Schools and a 1961 graduate of Stephens-Lee High School. She received nursing training becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse from Asheville-Buncombe Technical Institute in 1965. She also attended the Asheville-Biltmore College, later named the University of North Carolina at Asheville. Arsie worked numerous jobs as a nurse, including the medical offices of Dr. John P. Holt, Sr. on Livingston St., from where she retired. She was also the family expert on medicine and was the medical caretaker of her father for numerous years before his passing. Arsie was one of the two matriarchs of the Grant Family and helped rear many of the children including her special great-nieces and nephews, Victoria, Stephen and DeOnna Blount, and Jaron Sellers, who she would keep every day after they left school until the evenings.
On June 18, 1967, Arsie married John Henry Dickson, Jr., of Asheville, NC. They welcomed to their union a beautiful daughter, Faith, in 1971. They were married for almost 35 years until his passing on June 15, 2002. She and her daughter remained close and were the best of friends until her untimely death.
Arsie was a lifelong member of Worldwide Missionary Baptist Tabernacle, which was founded by and under the leadership of her father, Rev. Dr. Wesley Grant, Sr., then her brothers, Rev. Dr. Louis E. Grant, and Rev. Dr. James A. Grant. She was the organist for the church for over 60 years and would open service with vibrant and striking melodies to the hymn, “Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound.” She devoted herself to the work of the church through the music ministry until she was unable to attend service due to her illness which began in 2020, as well as the Count On Me Ministries, which was also founded by her father.
Arsie was proceeded in death by her parents, Rev. Dr. Wesley Sr., and Dr. Arsie Grant, as well as her husband, John Henry Dickson, Jr.
Her family will continue to cherish the wonderful memories, lessons and love given to them by “Mama”, “Rue”, “Aunt Rue” and “Arsie Ruth.” Those who remain to carry her legacy are her only child and beloved daughter, Faith Dickson Lynch (Lowe); grandchildren, Trendell and Taliya Lynch; 3 great-grandchildren; her sister, Marye Grant McDaniel; brothers, Rev. Dr. Wesley Grant, Jr., John A. Grant, Sr., Rev. Dr. Louis E. Grant (Sandra), and Rev. Dr. James A. Grant; nephews and nieces, Clinton M. McDaniel and Regina M. Blount (Alfred), whom she considered her children, Cheri G. Harper, Rosalind G. Miller (Thomas), Lesley Grant, John A. Grant, Jr., Steven Grant (Juanita), Saundra G. Cromer (William), Kendra Harbison, Charles Harbison (La Patra), Tameka Scarborough (Petey), Lisa Dickson, Jackie Grant, Dolores Grant, Tonya Edgerton, Tony Edgerton, Angela Dickson, Rod Dickson, Allison Dickson, and Ryan Dickson. She also leaves behind a host of great-nieces and great-nephews, cousins, especially her special cousin, Sheila Robinson-Gilliland, who would help take care of her and get her hair ready for church on Sundays; great-nephew, Alton, Jr. “AJ”, and special niece, Michelle Grant, with whom she had a special bond; as well as brothers-in-law, James Dickson (Patricia), Roger Dickson; sisters-in law, Cathy Grant and Marilyn Dickson; and adoptive brother, Raymond Joseph.
A Funeral Service to honor the life of Arsie Ruth Grant Dickson will be held on Friday, April 8, 2022, at 11:30 a.m. in Tried Stone Missionary Baptist Church, 100 Carroll Ave., Asheville. A viewing will be from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 7, in Worldwide Missionary Baptist Tabernacle, 85 Choctaw St., and at Tried Stone Missionary Church an hour prior to the service. Interment will immediately follow the service at Western Carolina Cemetery in Black Mountain, N.C.
The service will be lived streamed on Avery's Memorial Chapel Face Book page.
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