The Night Dicksie Visited

After her death from breast cancer in 2016, Dicksie Gregorie Johnson appeared to her older sister in a dream that felt eerily real.  Restored to health, Dicksie looked her best, sharing the message that she was alive and well. 

The next day, as the full story unfolded, it became crystal clear that this was no dream.  On the same night, five months after her death at age 53, Dicksie had appeared in similar fashion to four people: two sisters and two friends.

What a gift for the grief stricken!  For so many people and for so many reasons, losing Dicksie was a heart wrenching ordeal.  She was devoted to her family, leaving behind her husband, a son, and three daughters.

Dicksie was sixth of the seven Gregorie children who grew up in Charleston, S.C. during the 1960s and 70s. Naturally, her death left a gaping void in her close-knit, extended family. Yet scores of people beyond the circle of her kin cried for Dicksie. Whether others had known her for a lifetime or only for a short span, Dicksie spread happiness and joie de vivre, just by being herself. 

“Dicksie was the life of the party,” says sister Ann Gregorie Kulze. “She never knew a stranger. She was uniquely easy to connect with, very easy to talk to, and she loved to talk. Dicksie had an insatiable curiosity. She wanted to know about everything and everyone; she was a remarkable friend to so many. Dicksie  was always fun, a bit mischievous, and exuded a loving, irrepressible spirit.”

Below, the four women describe their Dicksie dreams:

“It’s All Okay. I am Okay!”

by Rebecca “Becky” Gregorie Baird, M.D. 

When Dicksie died from aggressive metastatic great cancer in November of 2016, the grief was overwhelming. For me it was extra hard because not only was she my sister, but she was also my patient. I had provided her primary care for years. So when we lost the battle not only was I sad, but I was also filled with guilt.

Should we have done something differently that could have altered her course? I would at times agonize with questions and doubts about her treatment and nonresponse.

About five months after she died, in April of 2017, I had a very vivid dream one night. I dreamed that Dicksie came to me- — her face was very close to mine — and she looked beautiful. She looked at me and said, “It’s all okay. I am okay!”

When I woke up I felt like a huge weight had been lifted from my shoulders. I knew that it was real and that she was letting me know that she was alive and well.

Later that day I was out shopping with my daughter. My very good friend Devon Hanahan called me, and we chitchatted for a bit. Then she said, “I had the most amazing dream about Dicksie last night. She looked so beautiful and happy. I think she was getting ready to go to a party!”

I said “Wow! That is so interesting, because I had a great dream about Dicksie last night as well.”

  I did not think too much about it after that.

Later that evening I was meeting a couple of other girlfriends for a drink at a new rooftop bar downtown. One of the girls was Tricia Wilson, who was one of Dicksie’s best friends. In fact, Tricia was with Dicksie the morning she died. 

Before going out, we decided to meet and carpool to the restaurant. When we were in the car together, Tricia said, “I had a great dream about Dicksie last night, and she looked so beautiful and happy.” At this point I developed goose bumps; I told her about my dream and Devon’s dream.

When we got to the bar, I said I need to call my sister Ann and tell her about the dream. So I called Ann and before I could get the words out of my mouth, she said, “I had the most amazing dream about Dicksie last night!”

  At this point I was in tears!

There is no doubt that Dicksie came to each of us on the same night for a specific purpose. She was letting me know that she was okay, and I could let go of my guilt. I believe if the dreams are of goodness and light that they come from the Holy Spirit. 

***

“Thank You for Being Becky’s Friend”

by Devon Hanahan

On Thursday, April 20, 2017, I had a normal day of teaching Spanish at the College of Charleston. As I recall, my day also included exercising, going to the grocery store, and taking care of my family. As usual, I went to bed around 11 p.m. and read a book for 30 minutes before falling asleep. Nothing tipped me off to the unusual dream which I would soon experience.

The next morning I woke up, full of excitement. I shook my husband awake, saying, “Bill! I heard from Dicksie last night.” 

Bill was understandably confused, but I continued. “I had such a vivid dream in which Dicksie visited me, smiling and in perfect health. She wore a blue shirt, and the sun was shining on her hair. She said, ‘Hey, Devon, it’s so good to see you! I wanted to tell you that I am doing great, and I am so happy. Thank you for being Becky’s friend and for looking out for her. She needs you even more now.’ ” 

I knew for certain that this was not a dream: Dicksie had really been there.

I had experienced this type of encounter twice before: the first time with my father-in-law, and the second time with a dear friend’s teenage son who had drowned. I have had ordinary dreams about other loved ones who have passed away, but those three times with Billy Hanahan, Hugh Buyck, and Dicksie were not dreams: they were real visitations. 

Of course I was honored to have seen Dicksie. And yet, I wasn’t sure that I ranked high enough amongst her nearest and dearest to deserve this special visit. I loved Dicksie, and for years I have felt like part of the boisterous, loving Gregorie family, so like my own, but that’s because one of Dicksie’s older sisters is my best friend. All of my fun times with Dicksie, Fran, and their kids were through my friendship with Becky. 

Naturally, that friendship also meant sharing the journey of Dicksie’s illness. I managed to visit Dicksie very near the end. I wonder if that visit was why she chose to appear to me? 

Dicksie died the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, on Nov. 16, 2016. On Tuesday, I sat for a while in the Intensive Care Unit with Dicksie’s mother and a group of her sisters, including Becky. By this point, it was clear that Dicksie would not live much longer. Many others also showed up to lend their support.

That evening I had to lead a Spanish class dinner, but on my way home, I went by the hospital again to see what I could do. Dicksie had been moved out of the ICU to a private room, and Fran was there alone with her in the dim light, with his head down and her hand in his. Dicksie died the next morning, leaving many to wonder why God took away such a vibrant soul when she still had children to raise, people to love, work to do. It was hard to believe that she was gone.

Yet five months later, there was Dicskie, looking fully restored and coming to me in my sleep. I couldn’t wait to tell Becky! I called her immediately and told her my story. She was thrilled and said, “You are not going to believe this, but the same thing happened to me last night!” (At this point, Becky did not yet know that Ann and Tricia had also received a Dicksie dream.) 

Becky and I marveled over the visits. This confirmed my already held belief in God’s presence in our lives and in our promised eternal life. 

***

Dicksie Looked Happy, Healthy, and Full of Light

By Tricia Wilson

Dicksie was my first real introduction to Charleston.  I started dating Rob Wilson while in college at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  One weekend, he asked me to visit Charleston.  I was nervous, concerned about what his family and friends would think and how I might fit in.  I had been bombarded with stories about how snobby and unaccepting the people from Charleston were and was assured by many that I would not be too welcome.  That was all wrong because… there was Dicksie.  

Rob and Dicksie had grown up together, and he was very close to her.  The first night in town we went out with Dicksie and Fran, her longtime boyfriend (and future husband). Dicksie immediately opened her heart to me, this newcomer, and that was the beginning of a friendship like none other.  Later, after I married Rob and moved to Charleston, Dicksie embraced me like a sister, and our friendship grew deep and wide. 

In fact, I truly became part of her family, and that has not changed over all these years.  I was included in many holidays, vacations, and other family time with Dicksie, her mom, her sisters, and of course, Fran and her children.  Sallie is my goddaughter and the closest thing to a third daughter to me as possible.  Dicksie and I shared everything from our deepest feelings to some of the most fun times I have ever had, traveling, running races, paddle boarding or just hanging out in the country, the beach, or the mountains.  She was indeed my sister.

I travel a lot for my work as an accountant. During her illness, I would try to connect with Dicksie on the weekends as much as possible when she felt up to it.  The week before she died I was out of town, and by the time I got home on Sunday, Dicksie was in the hospital. Things were pretty rough. I called Fran and asked if I could stop by because I had missed seeing her right before she went in.  

He said come on by and say you are her sister (only family members were allowed in).  I got there and slipped by as the sister.  Dicksie was high spirited, funny, and just as curious about what was going on in Charleston and even outside the curtain of her room as ever. My favorite thing about her was her desire to know everyone and everything!  We laughed and hugged, but I did not stay long because she was weak.  

I left for Charlotte Monday morning. I had an apartment in Charlotte that I stayed in regularly when there on work.  On Tuesday night, I woke up and could not get back to sleep. I was anxious and had a feeling that I just needed to visit Dicksie one more time.  Before dawn, I got in my car and headed back to Charleston. It was Wednesday, Nov. 16. I called Fran around 6 a.m. and asked if I could come by the hospital. He said yes, come on. I got there about 7:30 a.m. and found Fran there with Jane, Dicksie’s youngest sister.  

The hospital had moved her out of the ICU, giving the family more privacy. I sat on one side of the bed and held Dicksie’s hand while Fran was on the other.  At some point Dicksie peacefully got her calling and left us, as we both sat there quietly telling her how much we loved her.  It was such a gift to be with her in those last few hours, and I know that God spoke clearly to me as he led me to that hospital room.

In April 2017, five months after Dicksie’s death, I was missing her terribly, as I knew many were.  Dicksie’s sister Becky and I decided we needed a fun night out (there seemed to be a wave of sadness).  We planned to meet up the next night and head downtown to meet some people for drinks.  This is not something either of us normally does…..but for some reason, it just felt like we needed to get together.  

The night before, I stayed home and went to bed early.  I don’t often get the opportunity to just quietly sit on my couch and read before bed, but that night I did. My thoughts drifted from my reading as I thought about Dicksie. The last time she had been at my house (when she was in the middle of chemotherapy) she had sat on that very couch. We had laughed some and cried some. She had been too weak to go on a boat ride with me, which was something we always enjoyed doing together.  That was a hard day.

After my reflective night at home, I went to sleep and had the most vivid dream I have ever had.  I was sitting on that same couch, with Dicksie, just the two of us.  We were laughing so hard and talking 90 miles an hour about our children, fun things, and well, just conversation as normal.  It was light and easy and Dicksie looked happy, healthy, and full of light.  The cloud of darkness that had covered her during her illness was totally gone.  When I woke up, I  sat straight up in bed and knew — this was a real visit.  Dicksie had come to let me know she was back to her old self….beautiful, easy going, fun, and full of joy. Amazing grace.

 I thought about the dream all day as I felt so peaceful about it.  However, I didn’t speak of it until that evening when I saw Becky.  I hopped in her car and, after a quick exchange of hellos, I dove right into the Dicksie dream.  As you may know, Becky is about the calmest person I have ever met.  And…her reaction was like none other.  She started telling me about her dream and Devon’s dream.  

We got to the bar, and Becky called Ann. Soon we learned that Ann had also been visited by Dicksie. All similar, all the same time.  The hair stood up on the my back of my neck. 

That night out, Becky and I had a great time with our friends.  There was a bridesmaid party there, and they came over and chatted a little.  When they left, one of the women left her sunglasses on the table.  To this day, those sunglasses travel around with family and friends who knew and loved Dicksie.  We have pictures from all over the world, and we call them the traveling sunglasses. I think the fun of sharing these moments is something that Dicksie would have absolutely loved.

I am a deeply spiritual person and the “Dicksie dream” has been one of the most powerful experiences of my life.  While I have never doubted God’s good intentions in my life, losing Dicksie was a tough time of not understanding why such an amazing, God fearing friend, mom, sister, wife, and daughter would be taken away from so many who love her.

Somehow Dicksie’s coming back in that dream reaffirmed what I knew, but needed reminding of, at the time.  We are all God’s angels, whether here on earth or after we have left our physical body. As my dear friend, Dicksie was always helping me see deeper and understand better.  Her death has only been a continuation of that gift, allowing me to know that God is present in every single moment and that it is all grace.  

***

It Was Really Dicksie, the Angel

by Ann Gregorie Kulze, M.D.

Dicksie and I were extremely close. She was 21 months younger.  We shared a room from toddlers until our early teens.  There was no individual my life, with the exception of my children and husband, to whom I felt closer. We were totally open with one another. We shared our deepest fears and concerns. Her untimely death left a huge void in my heart.

Despite this, after losing Dicksie, I had not had a dream that involved her. That changed on April 21, 2017. My encounter with Dicksie took place between 2:15 a.m. to 2:35 a.m. when Dicksie suddenly appeared to me.  Her face was inches from my face. I could not make out anything in the background.  Her face was the only thing visible, and it was very vivid and very clear. She looked amazing — no notable lines or strain on her face.  Her eyes and her entire face were beaming with happiness.  She had a big smile and said with great enthusiasm and affirmation, “I am great!” 

Then poof! She was gone.

When the dream ended, I woke up so dramatically that I nudged my sleeping husband and said excitedly, “I just dreamed about Dicksie.”

I had an unmistakable, deep sense of knowing that it really was Dicksie, the angel.

During the following afternoon, around 5:30 p.m., Becky called my cell phone and was beside herself with excitement. I could hear talking and all sorts of boisterous, upbeat conversation in the background. 

It was apparent to me very early on in  the phone conversation that Becky was calling me to tell me about Dicksie coming to her in a dream. I purposely stopped her and said, “Please let me say something before you go on.” 

I quickly shared my experience. Then Becky told me that she, Devon, and Tricia had also dreamed about Dicksie on the previous night. It was just amazing! We were beside ourselves with joy and an unshakable sense of deep peace that Dicksie was indeed basking in the light and love of heaven.

***

Our body is like a house we live in here on earth. When it is destroyed, we know that God has another body for us in heaven. The new one will not be made by human hands as a house is made. This body will last forever.

St. Paul, 2 Corinthians 5:1 (New Living Version)

This story was compiled and edited by Pringle Franklin.