Dean Willard Ramseur

DEAN WILLARD RAMSEUR

Dean Willard Ramseur was born on Sunday, March 7, 1954 in Newton NC to Jess Willard Ramseur and Thelma (Pam) Williams Ramseur; both proceeded him in death. He departed this life on Tuesday, May 12, 2020 at Anderson Mill Health and Rehabilitation Center in Austell, Georgia during the great Pandemic of 2020. While he did not suffer from COVID-19, his last days, as well as all others in healthcare facilities, were impacted by the challenges on care providers and the inability for family visitation.

Dean was raised in Newton NC on Balls Creek Road and first attended Catawba Rosenwald Elementary School. In 1966, he was on the front line of desegregation by being one of the first three black students to integrate Balls Creek Elementary School. He grew up attending Mt. Olin AME Zion Church in Newton NC and later joined Morning Star Baptist Church in Hickory, NC. 

Life

As a kid, Dean climbed trees, played in Mama Eunice and Daddy Howard Ramseur's yard, and had long chats with his great-grandma Maggie Torrance Kennedy. As a teenager, he loved working at Hickory Memorial Hospital with his grandfather, Sam Williams and he especially enjoyed sharing his weekend adventures as an orderly. At Bandys High School he played saxophone in the band. After graduation, he attended Catawba Valley Technical College and was later employed by Piedmont Natural Gas in Hickory NC. In 1991, he and his family moved to Smyrna, Georgia where he had a career in apartment maintenance management before his retirement.

Family

Dean is survived by his ex-wife Peggy Ramseur Rawls, children-Dario Williamson and wife Hope of Dayton OH; Tonya Williams and husband Marion of Conyers GA; Roger Coulter and wife Amber of Locust Grove, GA; Lamont Williamson and wife Vickie of Austell, GA; and Tony Williamson of Smyrna, GA.

He loved his grandchildren and was affectionately known as Pa-Pal. He has twenty-three grandchildren: Danasia, Legaci, Jada, Quran, Deon, Darion and Dario, Jr. (Dario's children); Tiera, Kiera, Camryn (Tonya's children); Brittany, Lamont, Gigi and Anaya (Lamont's children); Dean, Kiyanna, Desirae, Layla, Jaiden, Tristen and Bailey (Roger's children); Myka and Markell, Jr. (Tony’s children). He was also blessed with four great-grandchildren: Reign, Kario, Ri’Asia, and Jasiah.

Dean is survived by his sisters: Agnes (Judy) England of Conover, NC; Claudia (Gladys) Teague of Charlotte NC; brother, Marc Williams of Newton NC; Uncle Paul Williams and wife Cordia of Claremont, NC; Uncle Henry Williams of Conover; and Aunt Nelda Ramseur of Lincolnton, NC. He will be missed by a host of family and friends.  

Memorial Services

The family plans memorial services in the Atlanta GA and Hickory NC areas when COVID-19 quarantine is relaxed in a manner that allows for large gathering. Family and friends will be notified of the date, time, and places via telephone, email, and social media.

Acknowledgement and Appreciation

The family of the late Dean Willard Ramseur would like to express appreciation and gratitude to their neighbors, friends, and coworkers for their acts of kindness shown to them during their time of bereavement. They would also like to thank his immediate caregivers in his final days at Anderson Mill Health and Rehabilitation Center who were trying to help him get home in Douglasville GA before his passing. 

If your heart leads you to make a memorial donation, please do so in the name of Dean Willard Ramseur to the American Cancer Society or Crossroads Hospice and Palliative Care of Atlanta GA.

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