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Benjamin Sylvester Dickens, 57, of Mount Vernon, New York, passed April 5, 2013 as he physically opposed long term cancer. He was born on February 4, 1956 in Chicot County, Dermott, Arkansas. Ben was the youngest son of 16 children of the late James and Bernice Dickens of Montrose, AR. Ben graduated from Lakeside High School in 1974. He attended Arkansas College ( Lyon) in Batesville, AR where he was a member of the Kappa Sigma international organization. Ben also attended the University of Arkansas at Monticello where he was a member of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. He enlisted in the United States Navy and was selected for Executive / Chief Warrant Officer training. Subsequently, Ben moved to Mt. Vernon, NY and earned his Bachelor of Science Degree at Mercer College. He was employed in Westchester Medical Services and finished his career with the Department of Social Services of Westchester County in Mt. Vernon.
Ben was a loving brother to his siblings, a devoted uncle to his nieces and nephews, and a caring cousin, sharing with them many nuggets of inspiration and wisdom. He was a kind, gentle, Southern man, who was also an outstanding gourmet chef. Benjamin carried the torch of optimism, wisdom, perseverance, love, compassion, independence, loyalty, and respectability.
Mr. Dickens is preceded in death by his parents, James and Bernice, 2 brothers, James Starling and Larry, and 1 sister, Julia Maxine ( Terry).
He leaves precious memories with 7 sisters: Beatrice, New London, Ohio; Doris, London, Ohio; Celia ( Jesse) Oakland, California; Rosalyn Elizabeth Moore, Dermott, Arkansas; Paulette (Otis ),Logansport, Louisiana, Beverly Ann and Angee Sharon, Little Rock, AR; 5 brothers: John Willie (Mary), Flint, Michigan; Sam, Detroit, MI; and Arthur (Olivia), Joe (Nancy) and Claude of Mt. Vernon, NY, one closely intertwined and connected niece, Master Sgt. Rozelle Dickens, Alexandria, Virginia, one step sister, Elma, St. Louis, Missouri, and numerous wonderful nieces and nephews and loving cousins.
Ben was a loving brother to his siblings, a devoted uncle to his nieces and nephews, and a caring cousin, sharing with them many nuggets of inspiration and wisdom. He was a kind, gentle, Southern man, who was also an outstanding gourmet chef. Benjamin carried the torch of optimism, wisdom, perseverance, love, compassion, independence, loyalty, and respectability.
Mr. Dickens is preceded in death by his parents, James and Bernice, 2 brothers, James Starling and Larry, and 1 sister, Julia Maxine ( Terry).
He leaves precious memories with 7 sisters: Beatrice, New London, Ohio; Doris, London, Ohio; Celia ( Jesse) Oakland, California; Rosalyn Elizabeth Moore, Dermott, Arkansas; Paulette (Otis ),Logansport, Louisiana, Beverly Ann and Angee Sharon, Little Rock, AR; 5 brothers: John Willie (Mary), Flint, Michigan; Sam, Detroit, MI; and Arthur (Olivia), Joe (Nancy) and Claude of Mt. Vernon, NY, one closely intertwined and connected niece, Master Sgt. Rozelle Dickens, Alexandria, Virginia, one step sister, Elma, St. Louis, Missouri, and numerous wonderful nieces and nephews and loving cousins.