Rev. Henry Quitman Dickerson was born July 12, 1949 in Mira, Louisiana to Dorothy Larry. He and his sister, Eliza, were adopted by Rev. Quitman Dickerson and Edna Rowe-Dickerson. Rev. Dickerson and his sister spent their formative years in Douglasville, TX, and were members of the Gum Springs C.M.E. Church. He graduated from Douglas High school and went on to continue his education at Texas College in Tyler, TX. During his early days in college, Rev. Dickerson was drafted by the United States Army. During his years of service ,Rev.Dickerson was stationed at Ft.Polk, LA, Ft.Hood,Tx and in Heidelberg, Germany. After completing his commitment to active duty, Rev. Dickerson continued serving his country for several years in the United States Army Reserve. Rev. Dickerson later resumed his formal education and graduated from Texas College, earning his BS Social Sciences. He went on to earn his Master of Theology degree and an Honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Mt. Hope Bible College, Houston, TX, and he also completed studies at the Houston Graduate School of Theology, Houston, TX, earning his M.A. in Christian Ministry.

On July 9, 1977 Rev. Henry Dickerson married Clara Oleta Hines. God blessed them, and from their union Henry Q. Dickerson lI (deceased), Quinton Matthias Dickerson and Christian DeForest Dickerson were born. Rev. Dickerson and his gifted helpmate, Clara, served the C.M.E. Church faithfully at every charge he was assigned for 46 years. Rev. Dickerson believed in community involvement. In addition to the church, Rev. Dickerson served as president of the NAACP Longview Branch; an advisory member of Willand Incorporated, board member of Because I Care-Marrow and Tissue Typing for Minorities; and he was a Connecting Link with the East Texas Chapter of The Links Incorporated for 29 years. Rev. Dickerson also served as president of the Area Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance-Longview; the first Longview site instructor for continuing education for the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC-Atlanta, GA); board member for Longview Community Ministries; and a member of the Longview Interfaith Council.

Rev. Dickerson accepted his call to preach at the age of nine, as a member of his home church, Gum Springs C.M.E.He preached his first sermon on July 20, 1958, at Mt. Zion C.M.E. Church, Dangerfield, TX. After his first sermon, he was affectionately known as the boy who preached while standing on a wooden box. As an ordained Elder in the C.M.E. Church, Rev. Dickerson provided pastoral leadership to congregations at Friendship C.M.E. Church, Lindale, TX; Malakoff Circuit (New Hope C.M.E Church, Corinth C.M.E. Church, Brookin Chapel C.M.E. Church); M.t Zion C.M.E Church, Ben Wheeler, TX; Metropolitan C.M.E. Church, Houston, TX; Carter Temple C.M.E. Church, Galveston, TX; St. Mark C.M.E. Church, Longview, TX; St. James CM. E. . Church, Tyler, TX; and Mt. Zion C.M.E. Church, Kilgore, TX. As a Presiding Elder, he led the Longview-Marshal District-East Texas Region of the C.M.E. Church for eleven years, and he led the Tyler District-Central Texas Region of the C.M.E. Church four years. Once Rev. Dickerson put his hands to the plow, he never looked back. Rev. Dickerson was firmly persuaded and lived according to the scripture "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13). With his faith in God and this scripture as his motto, Rev. Dickerson committed his life to preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ for over 65 years and served the C.M.E. Church as pastor to God's people for more than 56 years.

On November 20, 2023, shortly after sunrise, Presiding Elder Henry Quitman Dickerson transitioned from this earthly life to his heavenly home. He was preceded in death by his parents, Rev. Quitman Dickerson and Edna Rowe-Dickerson, his son, Henry Q. Dickerson II, his brother Curtis Jones, and his sister, Eliza Anthony.

Presiding Elder Dickerson is survived by his wife, Clara Hines Dickerson, his sons, Quinton M. Dickerson (April) and Christian D. Dickerson (Kirstyn); grandchildren Q' mora Janae, Quinton Amari, Brayden Ridley, Chris DeForest, Easton Grey and Maddox Ryder; sisters, Mamie B. Duncan, Mary Helen Taylor, and Stephanie Reed. He also has a host of nieces —including his namesake, Henrietta Anthony, nephews, godchildren, family and friends.