Martha Dicus Obituary

RIP Ms.Dicus & thank you for helping me in 1998.Thank you so much!!!

My Sincere Condolences to Martha's family.

If you met or worked with Martha,you could never forget her.She was a shining example for us at NLAP. Her warmth and sincerity will never be forgotten.

Bernice L. Brooks
Woodbridge, VA

Words cannot begin to describe this wonderful woman. Martha is one of the kindest and most generous people I've ever been blessed to know. To say she has a heart of gold would be an understatement for it shines brighter than the sun and moon ever could or will. God bless you Martha. When you get settled in up there, you save a place for me.

Martha truly was a saint living here on earth. We shall all miss her greatly. My sympathy to her family and loved ones

It's Friday and the sun has finally came back out, and all I keep thinking is that it is Martha shining her light. She was, and is, truly an angel. Rhett and all of Martha's loving family and friends ~ Brooks and I wish you peace and send our love during this difficult time.

I was in law school with Martha and one could never forget what a wonderful and caring person she was then and remained her entire life. I am so sorry I lost regular contact with her over the years. Martha was "was one of a kind" and loved by all. My condolences to her family and friends. Our world has lost a real difference maker.

Martha was such a beautiful person, who left a lasting impression on all she came into contact with. She will be truly missed.

My late father (Judge John Black of Walterboro) presided over many cases when Martha was representing her clients. He thought the world of her, and she must have reciprocated his feelings--as she wrote the nicest column about him for the Post and Courier after his death five years ago. Just reading about her dedication gives one pause about our own career choices.

I will never forget my days at Meredith with Martha and our days in northern Virginia especially our first snow ski trip. I laugh now as I remember. Martha brought love and goodwill wherever she was. She will not be forgotten. Lavinia Vann Evans

What a beautifully written obituary and so on point and appropriate. Martha touched my life several years ago and was just wonderful. My deepest sympathy to all of her loved ones. Sam Crews

Dear Rhett and Dicus family, I want to express my condolences over the loss of Martha. She was truly inspirational and our community has certainly lost one of the most tremendous advocates for those in need. She has truly left a wonderful lifelong legacy of public service. I hope that as time as passes, the sadness and tremendous sense of loss will soon be replaced with only warm memories of the times that you shared with her. With deepest sympathies, Amy

Martha was truly a wonderful person and I am honored to have known her.

Blessings and comfort to those touched by the life and work of a former Richland County Court co-worker and one of the best people I've been blessed to know. Take hope in the knowledge that an authentic angel who was allowed to walk the earth has simply gone home.

Mrs Dicus was a very loving and kind person that truely love helping people. She truely loved her job as a Public Defender. She has help me many times with myself and family members. Not once judging me but treating me with respect. Know that you and your family are in my prayers and thoughts. Mrs Dicus will be sadly missed by many.

I have had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Dicus, while working at the courthouse on Melbourne Ave and at the jail. Ms. Dicus has always been and will always been an awesome person of stature and an awesome, caring attorney. My heart goes out the family of Ms. Dicus. Ms Dicus you will truly be missed.

We were greatly saddened to hear of Martha's passing. She was so wonderful to all! She was a co-worker to my ex-husband, John Young, and he thought the world of her. I admired her from our first meeting and often pointed her out as an example to my three daughters as someone who was an excellent example of how to live life. I knew her well in the old days and have not seen her in a while but she was a wonderful, giving and gifted person. She will be missed by all whose lives she touched.

My thoughts and prayers are with Rhett and the Dicus family. The loss of Martha is great but those who were lucky enough to know her were better for it. She was one of the kindest people I have ever met and an example to us all. She truly left the world better than she found it.

I was blessed to have known Martha since law school, where she befriended me for reasons I still cannot fathom. She demonstrated daily that the law can still be a very high calling and that we can all choose to live a meaningful life of dedication to somehthing beyond ourselves. To have known her was a genuine privilege.

Martha was so sweet to my son, Christopher who worked at the Public Defenders office for awhile. She truly was a special lady and we were privileged to have known her. Our thoughts and prayers go to her family

Dear Rhett and the Dicus Family,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you in this time of reflection. Martha will be missed as she positively impacted and influenced many lives.

Dear Rhett and the Dicus Family,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you in this time of reflection. Martha will be missed for sure as she positively impacted and influenced many lives.

Martha was a blessing to so many people - a kind and compassionate lady - an excellent attorney. I am grateful I knew Martha. Love and sympathy to her family and friends.

It was an honor and a privilege to know Martha and count her as a friend. She was and will continue to be a wonderful role model for young lawyers. She will be greatly missed.

I was saddened to read of Martha's passing. She was a co-worker, friend and tennis buddy of my partner Ron who passed 14 years ago when Martha worked at Wake DSS. May God grant tender healing mercies to Rhett and all family members.

All of my memories of working with Martha are dear to me. There are not apt words to fully describe Martha. You just had to know Martha. Part of her legacy will be that she touched us inside and in ways we may not have realized at the time. In our lives now, we each continue to touch people in need. We will find that we are really passing on a bit of Martha from us to them. For me, this is how Martha continues being Martha, even now.

Godspeed Martha. You're goodness lives on in everyone you touched.

My son Reese was one of the young lawyers that was blessed to be mentored by Martha. I will forever be indebted to her for being such a wonderful,wise and compassionate person he is forever imprinted by her and for that I am truly grateful. my heartfelt sympathy to all of her family and friends. God bless you and keep you Beverly Stidham

I was so sad to hear of Martha's passing. I am so grateful that my sister had someone like Martha in her life, and I feel very lucky to have met her. Every year we use the advent calendar, we will think of her. We send our love and prayers to Martha's family and friends.

The world is a better place because Martha was here. She was a special friend with a loving and gracious spirit, always making you feel like you were the most special person in the world when she was with you. She was always up for an adventure and there was always a story!!! Traveling mercies, dear Martha, you will be missed.

Beautiful Martha, with the angels now, watching over us all... we left here on earth miss you and long for the grand reunion day

"Just as the sun will set then rise with each and every dawn, the souls of those who lived life well eternally live on..." Woody, I am saddened to hear of loss. Martha was a breath of fresh air. May you and the family find peace, strength, comfort, and love in knowing that as long as you can say Martha's name; she lives in your heart, truth and spirit. My deepest condolences to the Dicus Family!

Each life is a miracle that changes the world...
...and leaves it a better place than it was before.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the family, friends and co-workers of Martha Dicus.

To Rhett and the Dicus Family,
I extend my most sincere condolences to all of you. Martha was truly a kind and loving woman, and her kindness transcended to those she deeply cared about. Especially her profession, which she approached with great interest, appreciation, and valor. She will be truly missed.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the family. Martha was one of the kindest people I have ever met.

I'll always remember writing Christmas cards to those in the jail over Christmas for Martha and her telling me about her Dad bringing her cake after the Marine Corps Ball. Martha, you were a great lawyer and a great person and will be sorely missed!

Hugs to Martha's family, each of you made Martha as we loved her.

I am sending one of many memories from one of those who did not love her for her accomplishments 40 years later, but loved her for her inner spirit that moved her through life as a young college student in the late 60's:



Kodachrome Girl:

She followed me to Maine the summer of 1969 to work at the oldest girls camp in the nation, Wyonegonic. Very old simple cabins nestled on Moose Pond, blueberries on the trail, and campfires that were stunningly beautiful on any Maine starry night. Martha and I had been assigned to the Junior Camp - more keeping up with the grade school girls than teaching any camp skill. The directors wisely buffered both of us with the more skilled counselors, Martha and I just kept the little ones merry and safe. 8 week camp is a long time to be away from home for a young one.

One afternoon , I heard Martha's frantic screams cutting through the silence of rest hour. She was standing outside her cabin yelling "There's a bat in our cabin!!!" - Note: Counselor Martha was OUTSIDE - and her young squealing campers INSIDE. Getting her to go back in took some effort. We hung a rain slicker over her bed and convinced her the Bat was there to eat the mosquitoes and would not bother her with that slicker hanging in its night search path.


The children, like all the staff, adored her infectious spirit and openness to life. How could you not? ! I think Martha finally got used to Camp life. If only for a summer.

Martha was a Kodachrome girl who lived the fullness of her gifts - Those gifts remain in so many of us like a Kodachrome dream we never fully paid attention to at the time.

- Sue Ramsay, Raleigh NC, 1971 Meredith Classmate of Martha

To the Family of Martha Dicus:

I am deeply sadden by word of Martha's passing. I first met Martha when she became managing attorney of legal Aid in Beaufort County and we allowed the service to use a building at Penn Center wgere I was Exective Director. She was one of the nicest and most compassionate persons that I have ever met. She was always concerned about promoting justice and although there was a tinge of envy, I distintly remember how disapointed we were when she announced her departure for Yale. I left Penn Center in 2002 not having seen Martha since she left Penn Center. I am pleased to know that she continued to serve her clients with the same passion as she always did while in Beaufort.

Sincerely,

Emory S. Campbell

Dear Rhett and the Dicus Family- It hurts my heart to hear this very sad news. Martha is a treasure to so many. For 5 years, I had the privilege of working with her on the Adult Drug & Mental Health Court teams. I had received many a "Marthagram" and a handful of hershey kisses left secretly on my desk and it always put a smile on my face. I have all sorts of little keepsakes from her adventures in China. She is dearly missed. Please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers for comfort and strength. I know she is keeping watch over everyone she touched. "When it is dark enough, you can see the stars." -Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Dear Rhett, and Family and Friends of Martha,

This is such a sad loss for our community. I always held Martha with deep regard whether it was in our official capacity as we worked together on cases, or during those chance encounters during an evening walk along the Battery. Martha was a true beauty, a woman with great heart and compassion. She was perfect in her defense of the poor and disenfranchised, and her life was light for us all. She will be missed, but her spirit will live on as a beacon to help us all as we strive to make gentle the life of the world. Blessings and peace in this time of grief.

So sadden for the families and community.

Rhett and Members of the Dicus Family,
I am deeply saddened by the death of this valiant woman and public servant. From our work together to the chance encounters during the evening walks along the Battery, I felt the great bond of friendship. We have lost a beautiful light whose investment in the lives of those less endowed serves as a beacon to the rest of us---to care deeply about others and live in a way to make gentle the life of the world. Blessings and peace.

My heart is saddened to hear about the loss of a great woman of God. Ms. Dicus was my attorney and she believed in me, defended me in righteousness, and encouraged me in faith. She will be greatly missed by many. It is a pleasure to have known her. My prayers are with you and your family.

Mr. Dunaway and Dicus family,
I am so saddened that we have lost a wonderful lady. She was always such a caring and lovely person. We were blessed to have known her. My sincerest sympathy.

My thoughts are with Rhett and the family. Martha truly was one of the most kind and sincere persons I have met. She was a great asset to the community and to the Public Defender's office. She treated every client as if that person was her only client. She truly cared about anyone who crossed her path in life. She will be greatly missed by all. Sincerely, Danny Pieper

Rhett and The Dicus Family,
We are so sad to hear about Martha. She was such a special person. She was always so thoughtful and happy. When my kids were little she used to bring them presents from her trips and they always loved them. No matter how long we went without seeing her-she always remembered the kids and asked about them. She was truly an amazing woman and will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
Sherry and Michael DuPree

Martha,
My heart goes out to your family and friends in their time of sorrow. Working at the detention center our paths got to cross so many times there and at the courthouse. You definitely breathed life into a room when you graced it with your presence and you touched every ones life that you came in contact with. The Public Defenders Office has suffered a great loss in you passing.You were an Earth Angel who has definitely earned her Angel Wings. May you rest in peace my friend.

Rhett and the Dicus family,
I was saddened to read the news of Martha's passing. I am proud to have known such a wonderful person. She really did make everyone feel that they were truly her friend. I hope all the wonderful things that she did for ya'll and everyone else will help in getting thru this rough time. She was truly a wonderful person who never knew a stranger. My sincerest sympathy.