Berkeley County School District

2013 Legacy Legends

Florence DickersonRecognized by Mr. Frank Wright

Florence Jessie Dickerson was born August 7, 1913 in Huger, SC. Florence married the late Louis Dickerson and raised seven children and two step children. Ms. Dickerson has 24 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren, and nine great-great-grandchildren.

Ms. Dickerson was employed at Charity School in Huger as a cook during segregation. She transferred to Cainhoy Elementary and High when it opened in 1956. A member of Zion United Methodist Church, she was one of the organizers of the first choirs at the church now known as the Senior Choir. She has sung on the choir for over 80 years and still remains an active member. Florence served as an Eastern Star for many years.

Ms. Dickerson loves to travel and has traveled to many places in the United States. Her most memorable moment was to live long enough to vote for the first African American President of the United States.

Dr. Patricia GibbsRecognized by Mr. Don Brown

Dr. Gibbs was born in Lake City, South Carolina. She

received her education from Carver High School, Claflin

University, Fisk University, the Citadel and The Union

Institute.

Dr. Gibbs’ first job was in Williamsburg County School

District as a teacher of high school mathematics. Her

career with Berkeley County spans from 1963 to 2007.

During that time, she served as a lead teacher, math

department chair, student teacher advisor, member of the

initial evaluation team and substitute administrator.

Dr. Gibbs was known as a passionate and dedicated

educator who cared for her students and fostered their

success. After her students graduated from high school,

she continued to follow their progress in college and

throughout their careers.

When asked about her most memorable year, Dr. Gibbs

expressed that it was, “teaching a class of sixth graders

math and science and having about a third of the science

projects presented at the state level. That was a great

year.”

Her life after Berkeley County School District includes

reading, listening to classical music, traveling and learning

new things.

Ms. Elizabeth “Pete” JohnstonRecognized by Ms. Sue Hagan

Ms. Pete was born at home in Moncks Corner,

because there was not a hospital in Berkeley County

at that time. She attended Berkeley High,

Limestone College and the Citadel.

In 1947 she took her first teaching position at

Berkeley High. She spent 40 years with the

Berkeley County School District in the classroom.

Most of this time was spent teaching eighth grade

math at Berkeley Middle School.

She was known as a diligent, dedicated teacher who

was greatly respected in the community. Ms. Pete’s

love for children and education is demonstrated in

her continued involvement with the Roscoe Reading

Program and Kappa Kappa Iota.

“An activity I remember is having students make

South Carolina booklets,” Ms. Pete shared. “The

pages were in the shape of South Carolina. The

students wrote to counties and got information and

then shared it with the class. I just recently had a

former student tell me that she still has her

booklet.”

Ms. Pete’s hobbies include reading, playing bridge

and watching sports on television.

Ms. Elizabeth “Pete” JohnstonRecognized by Ms. Sue Hagan

Ms. Sims is a native and lifelong resident of Berkeley

County. Ms. Sims received her education through

Russellville High, Benedict College, South Carolina

State College and the College of Charleston.

Ms. Sims’ career spans 31 years teaching social

studies and reading and working with self-contained

students at R. A. Ready Elementary and Berkeley

Intermediate. She believes that all children can learn,

and she never gave up on any student. A strong

advocate of reading, she has continued to support this

key ingredient of knowledge by serving as a Roscoe

Reading Program volunteer.

She has expressed that her most memorable year

was, “The year I tutored one of my students that was

diagnosed with cancer. I gave her instructions, but

she taught me how to be more compassionate,

patient, kind and understanding. Our homebound

sessions were uplifting and she worked hard in spite of

her illness because she had a will and desire to learn.

The bond we shared was special.”

Since retirement from the school system Ms. Sims

spends time reading, engaging in photography,

completing word puzzles, spending time with her

family and taking care of her vegetable and flower

garden.