On July 1, 1945, a son, Joe Clinton Dickerson was born to the late Jesse and Mary Dickerson in Houston, Texas.

He confessed Christ as his personal Savior at an early age and was baptized at South Union Missionary Baptist Church in Houston, Texas. He later joined Greater Zion Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Theodore H. Johnson Jr. He attended public school in Houston, Texas and graduated from Evan E. Worthing High School in 1963. Joe was one of the first black apprentice carman with Southern Pacific Railroad. He was drafted in 1965 and honorably discharged in 1967. Upon his return from service, he completed his four-year apprenticeship at Southern Pacific and enrolled in Texas Southern University. After completing his apprenticeship, he worked as a carman and trainmaster. He was transferred to Lafayette, Louisiana, New Orleans, Louisiana, Beaumont, Texas and Houston, Texas. In 1988, he retired from Southern Pacific due to medical reasons.

On June 13, 1965, he married his high school sweetheart, Joyce Ann Smith.  Their joy was increased with the birth of Tina Lynette and Joe Clinton Jr.

Joe had a passion for the western lifestyle. One of Big Joe's favorite hobbies was caring for his horses. He loved traveling with them to trail rides and rodeos with his late wife, Joyce and grandson Joe III. He was a member of Special Pals Trail Riding Club. They helped special needs children with therapeutic riding, developing work ethic and responsibility caring for horses. He enjoyed going to the country to ride horses, fishing, and hunting.

He was preceded in death by (father) Jesse Dickerson, (sister) Rosa McCall, (mother) Mary Dickerson, (wife) Joyce Dickerson and (brother) Jesse Dickerson Jr.

He leaves to cherish his love and legacy to:  his daughter, Tina Dickerson Parker (Marcus) and son, Joe Dickerson Jr (Cynthia); four grandsons, Landon Dickerson Sr (Erika), Joe Dickerson III, Nicholas Dickerson and Marcus Parker Jr; two great grandchildren, Landon Dickerson Jr and Skylar Dickerson; two sisters, Beverly Breaux and Jacquelyn Derousselle and an array of uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and friends.