Remembering the life and ministry of Harley Dickson

SERVICE INFORMATION: A memorial service for Rev. Dr. Harley Dickson is Saturday, Sept. 25 at 1 p.m. in Memorial Chapel at Lake Junaluska. Members of the Foundation staff will be in attendance.  In addition, the Foundation will make a memorial gift to the Northern Haiti Mission Partnership.

Below is a remembrance shared by the Foundation:

Please join our staff and board in giving thanks for the life of Harley Dickson, whose leadership enabled the Foundation to reach higher in its mission to build God’s kingdom. Harley passed away while in the presence of loved ones, and under the care of Hospice, at his home in the Givens Estates community in Asheville. He was 92.

Harley is survived by his two sons, Chuck and Ken, and many loved ones. His wife, Inez, passed away in January 2020.

An ordained Elder in Full Connection in The Western North Carolina Conference, Harley’s service dates back to 1951 when he took his first appointment in parish ministry at Coleridge. Through the years, he served Aldersgate in Shelby, Main Street in Albemarle, First in Wadesboro, First in Lexington, Providence in Charlotte and West Market Street in Greensboro. He also had two appointments as District Superintendent in Waynesville and Greensboro.

Harley’s last full-time appointment ended in 1997 as the Executive Director of the Foundation. Always committed to the ministry of the Foundation, he returned in an interim capacity in September 2001 until the arrival of David Snipes, our current president, in February 2002.

Harley was instrumental in the late 1990s in bringing “The Reynolds Foundation” under the umbrella of the United Methodist Foundation of Western North Carolina. In retirement, he served in a part-time contractor role as the Director of the Reynolds Fund, now known as Reynolds Ministries & Programs. He was instrumental in creating one of our most successful programs: The Reynolds Leadership Academy for Evangelism & Discipleship. Most recently, he served as an honorary board member of the Foundation.

Harley’s contributions to United Methodism in western North Carolina are immeasurable. As a board and staff, we owe him a great deal of gratitude for the successes we have experienced.