Obituary of Joseph Oswald Dickerson, Jr.

Joseph Oswald Dickerson, Jr., affectionately known as “Joe,” was born in the city of Camden, NJ. The second child of the late Joseph Oswald Dickerson, Sr. and Bernice Florence, he grew up in Woodbury and Pleasantville, NJ, as well as Philadelphia, PA In the early 1950s, while driving through Woodbury one day, Joe noticed a beautiful young lady that piqued his interest. He stopped his car to ask her name. Vernell Fanita Sampson. Joe went home and shared with his family that he had met the most beautiful woman in the world. They were married on June 20, 1952. Although educated in the Pleasantville and Philadelphia school systems, Joe ultimately received his GED while serving in the United States Army (1953 to 1955) during the Korean War. He was stationed in Germany. It was during this time he sent a message to Vernell saying: May the sun and the stars remind you of me as our son is being born, and may God keep all three of us safe until we are together again. Love, Bubby An entrepreneur from childhood, Joe had his own newspaper route and worked as a caddy at a local golf resort. He began his trucking career as a driver for a NJ based company, Shelton & Sons, hauling coal. Then, in the early 1960s, he was employed by Precision Drawn Steel Corporation as a machinist, traveling the county teaching other affiliates how to operate and repair their equipment. Joe subsequently used his strong leadership skills and talents to begin his own business venture, D & D Oil and Heating, which he ran from his home in Camden, NJ. His drive and determination didn’t stop there. It was in 1969 that Joe and his father launched their own trucking company, D & D Transportation, Inc., in the kitchen of their family home. They ultimately purchased a building at 1059 Empire Avenue in Camden, and the company continued to flourish. It remains active today and is operated by his daughters Joy Dickerson and Paula Richards, and his dedicated staff of many years, Marvina Jenkins and Rita Chambliss. When not running a successful business, Joe was a fan of the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles—as long as they were winning! He was a beach enthusiast, enjoying his time at his home at the Jersey shore, boating and fishing. Joe was also a member of Maranatha Christian Fellowship, now Converge Church, for over four decades. He served on its Board of Trustees for a number of years, and was a highly respected, faithful and loving mentor and friend to many. He was generous, smart, humble, kind, compassionate and, above all, a man of God. He is fiercely loved and will be sorely missed by all. Joe was preceded in death by his wife of over 52 years, Vernell, and their son Christopher Lamont Dickerson, as well as his sister Joanne Dickerson. Left behind to cherish his memories are his children Deneice Mahan, Keith Dickerson, Paula Richards (Trevor), Joy Dickerson, Debra Tucker (Michael) and Chad Solomon; and siblings Anise Dickerson, Carol Hall (Alfonso), Rodney Dickerson (Judith) and Sheila Smith (Clarence). Joe also leaves behind a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, family and friends.