Maci Nicole Dickerson

Maci Nicole Dickerson, 19, of Bryan, Texas passed away peacefully surrounded by her loved ones on December 9, 2023, just a few hours before her 20th Birthday. Maci made her debut into the world on  December 10, 2003, in Bryan, Texas to her loving parents Brian and Tashia Dickerson, and the best big sister in the world, Cierra Dickerson.

In 2003 at her time of birth, Maci was diagnosed with a rare developmental disorder known as Smith Lemli Optitz Syndrome (SLOS) along with Autism, Attention-deficit and hyperactivity (ADHD), and severe anxiety disorder. Shortly after she was born doctors told her family that she wouldn’t live past a certain age. Through the power of prayer, modern medicine, and her innate ability to overcome the daily struggles that many could never fathom she beat all odds and lived a beautiful life of nearly twenty years. Throughout her lifetime, Maci spent many hours in and out of the hospital being seen by some of  the best healthcare professionals in the world. However, what all these professionals failed to diagnose  her with was resilience.

“In the end, she became more than what she expected. She became the journey. And like all journeys, she did not end, she just simply changed directions and kept going.” – R.M. Drake

According to the Census Bureau, there are currently 7.9 billion people in the world but there are zero who are the same. As a child, Maci was full of life and energy. She’s been described by her family as extremely loving, endlessly caring, driven at her core, passionate beyond measure, and resilient beyond belief. She always carried a love for animals unlike any other, she spoke with wisdom and honesty, she was incredibly bright and never allowed a single lie to get past her, and she was fearless and unapologetic in the way that she lived. She religiously ate McDonald’s cheeseburgers (meat, cheese, and ketchup only), she always had a cold Sprite or Coke in hand (cold only because once it got even a little warm she was done with it), and she only accepted Promised Land Midnight Chocolate Whole Milk (no other brand was even worth her time).

Due to Maci’s various health issues, she existed, reacted, and communicated differently than most.  There were days when she communicated like every other “normal” teenager, and days when she couldn’t communicate at all. Although this was her reality, she had the ability to connect with anyone she met, and it was truly inspiring to all those whom she met. She had a rare ability to love equally and empathetically, and a sincere desire to fight every single day towards achieving her goals. She was a leader at heart, she motivated everyone around her to be the best versions of themselves, she ignited a passion in every person who witnessed her being, and with every step she took she left a trail of genuine life lessons for anyone who followed her to pick up.

Maci had many loves but the greatest of them all was agriculture. In 2011, she attended her first Texas Junior Livestock Association (TJLA) livestock show and exhibited a pig with her big sister by her side. After that day she never looked back. Animals were the backbone of her happiness, the show ring was her safe space within the world, and the agricultural industry became her classroom for teaching others life  lessons that money simply can’t buy. She attended Bryan ISD’s Special Education Department and graduated from Rudder High School in Bryan, Texas in May 2023. Maci was a member of the Brazos County 4-H and Rudder FFA clubs. Through a great amount of hard work, she received her Greenhand, Chapter and Lonestar degrees, and has submitted her application to receive her American FFA degree.

Maci was one, if not the first, intellectually challenged showman to show with an assistant. She successfully showed livestock across the country at TJLA jackpot shows, Texas major livestock shows, and the World Pork Expo. Throughout her show careers Maci brought home many buckles, banners, and ribbons, but these grand awards weren’t the reason she loved showing. It was the incredible experiences, genuine bonds and lifelong friendships, and pure love for the livestock show industry that she truly lived for.

From 2011 to 2019, Maci was known across the pig barn, but in 2020 she received her first Red Brahman show heifer, Cash, from the Herzog Family. There aren’t enough words in the world to describe the bond between Maci and Cash. Maci’s love for this beautiful beast was undeniable and evident to all who witnessed the duo together. Maci was Cash’s caretaker, but Cash was Maci’s purpose. They went on to win many banners and championship titles, but the greatest win they ever received was the eternal love  they had for each other. Maci was a member of the Texas Junior Brahman Association (TJBA) and the American Junior Brahman Association (AJBA).

There are 7.9 billion people in the world, but there are zero people who will leave behind a legacy of love and lessons like Maci. She was a pure soul, loving daughter, loyal sister, honest friend, brilliant mind, consistent caretaker, and above all one hell of a showman. The world will be a much dimmer place  without the bright light of Maci Dickerson, but her journey is not ending, it’s simply changing directions. She will continue to lead, inspire, and leave a mark even while being a guardian angel to so many from Heaven above. She will be deeply missed, continuously loved and remembered forever by all those who  had the pleasure of knowing her.

Maci is survived by her parents, Brian and Tashia Dickerson, sister, Cierra Dickerson, grandparents Larry and Pam Taylor (PeePaw and MeeMaw), grandparents, Kenny and Jennifer Dickerson (PaPa and Gram), uncle, Skip Taylor, aunt, Marie Taylor, uncle, Doug Miller, aunt, Tammy Miller, cousin, Kelsey Bradford and  her husband, Derrick Bradford, and their two children, Grant and Emoriee, cousin, Keaton Taylor and his  fiancé, Kayla, and their children, cousins, Madison and Hannah Miller.

Maci is preceded in death by her beloved dog, Princess, show heifer, Harper, show heifer, “40”, great grandparents, Melvin and LaNella Jackson, great-grandparents, Frank U. and Jean N Taylor, great grandmother, Arlene Taylor, great-grandparents, James and Susie Jones, great-aunt, Barbara Jones, great grandparents, L.T. and MaeDell Dickerson.

Visitation will be held at Callaway-Jones Funeral Home on Friday, December 15, 2023, from 6:00-8:00 pm. Funeral Services will be held at Callaway-Jones Funeral Home, on Saturday, December 16, 2023, at  2:00 pm with Pastor James Holt officiating. Interment will follow at the Aggie Field of Honor, in College  Station, Texas. Pallbearers will be Brian Dickerson, Payton Herzog, Mikey Curry, Reagan Thurman, Will Herd, and Aaron Nemec.

The Maci Dickerson Memorial Scholarship will be awarded to a member of the American Junior Brahman  Association at the All–American Brahman Junior Nationals. If you would like to contribute please contact Brad Gonce (979) 530-7901 or Natalie Herzog (254) 379-0127.