Linda Kay Hayes Dickerson was born on August 14, 1958, and peacefully departed this life on February 14, 2026, at St. John’s Hospital, surrounded by her loving family. She was the youngest daughter of Mary Catherine Sydnar Hayes and Andrew Jackson Hayes, Jr. She was born at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis, MO. Linda went to grade school and junior high school in Hillsboro, IL. She moved to Springfield, IL, in 1971 and attended Southeast High School. She joined in holy matrimony to Aaron Dickerson on March 27, 1987, in Springfield, IL, and together, they shared 39 years of marriage. Linda was employed at CW&P for 35 years as a buyer for human relations. She retired in 2015. She was coordinator for women and children at Contact Ministries, retiring in 2019.

Linda loved the Lord. She served at Zion. She started Missionary Baptist Church where she was voluntary president of We Care Mission Circle and vice cooking and president of Golden Hand Mission Circle and RMC coordinator of Culinary Ministries. She loved to cook! And she would always have that “Sunday meal” that no one left hungry. 

She was preceded in death by her mother, Mary Catherine Sydnar Hayes; father, Andrew Jackson Hayes, Jr.; brothers, Andrew Jackson Hayes III (Teri) of Peoria, IL, Pastor James Hayes of Hillsboro, IL; sister, Carolyn A. Fortune of Springfield, IL.

She leaves to cherish her memory: her husband, Aaron Dickerson; children, Jacinta T. Alexander of Springfield, IL, son, Erin Shawn Jackson of Springfield, IL; siblings, Brother Harold L. Hayes (Cheryl) of Peoria, IL, sister, Jeannette M. Atcherson of Springfield, IL; eight grandchildren, D’andre Hunter of D’Iberville, MS, Tiffany Hughes of Springfield, IL, Jasmine Alexander of Springfield, IL, Shaquara Jones Hunter of Springfield, IL, Erin L. Jackson of Springfield, IL, Anaiyah Jackson of Boulder, CO, Arre’iona Jackson of Jacksonville, IL, and Chaz Alexander of D’Iberville, MS; nine great-grands, D’andre Jr., Mya, Haieden, Braylen, Amara, Hailynn, A’Kynis, Terriah, Azariah; aunts, Susan Hayes Pallard of Los Angeles, CA, Margarite Sydnor of Peoria, IL; special nephews, A’Sahia Jackson and Derrick Crawford; and many nieces and nephews and friends.

Linda loved her family, she was straightforward, honest, and enjoyed people helping with a compassionate heart. She liked Family Feud and was a Golden State Warrior fan. We will all miss her, but she’ll tell us all-you all carry on-I have a new address now.

Linda was a wife, a mother, a grandmother, a great-grandmother, a sister, a aunt, a great-aunt, and a friend, but most of all, Linda was a child of the Most High God. She was baptized at a young age at St. James Baptist Church in Hillsboro, IL, under the Pastor John Sanders. She studied the Bible and attended Bible study and prayer meetings. She always sent morning devotionals to family and friends and those she knew were going through something to encourage all-that God is the answer and Jesus died for all. Linda, sleep on. 

Luke 2:29, “Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word:”