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Nominated by Mitzy Sharp Futro

"Reverend Terence Alton Dicks – or “Terence,” as he asked those close to him to call him - was steadfastly dedicated to a mission of improving the life circumstances of others. Terence was a selfless advocate for equity and justice, demonstrating leadership and commitment not only in his work with Georgia Legal Services Program, but also as an activist for civil rights and community empowerment in his local communities, throughout the state and at a national level.

Terence served with distinction on the GLSP Board of Directors for more than 14 years, having been appointed by The Edge Connection and Georgia Clients Council to help represent the voice of client communities. He brought his personal perspectives to the board and encouraged other client representatives to draw from their own lived experiences to help inform the organization's work. He not only led conversations about the impact of legal issues on our clients, but moved beyond discussion to help identify strategies that would best serve our communities and, when his hometown of Augusta, Georgia was involved, he connected GLSP with organizations and individuals who could best help us engage with those in need of our assistance. 

When term limits dictated that he leave the board,he stayed engaged with the organization, serving as an active constituent until he was able to return to a leadership position. His board service included terms as vice president; roles on the executive, finance and nominating Committees; and participation on the search committee during the organization’s last two executive director searches.  

Beyond his board service, Terence worked with GLSP’s Augusta office for years to preserve and improve housing throughout the city; his special understanding of GLSP’s work was deepened by his tenure as a staff paralegal in the Augusta office for several months in 2014 – 2015. He was also a strong supporter of GLSP’s work around racial equity and justice, engaging with the organization’s Race Equity Team to share his perspectives and encourage their dialogue and action.   

Rev. Dicks was the founder of the “Claiming a Street Named King” initiative that worked to revitalize low-income neighborhoods and streets named after historical Black leaders. He was a member of the Richmond County Board of Elections and served as a leader for organizations such as the Augusta Human Relations Commission, Georgia Clients Council, Richmond County Transit Citizens Advisory Committee, the Georgia Center for Children and Education and many others. Among the many honors Terence received for his work were the 2019 Liberty Bell Award from the Augusta Bar Association and the 2016 Client Contribution Award from the National Legal Aid and Defender Association.  

Sadly, we lost Terence on January 5, 2023. But his legacy of leadership and his contributions to the ideals of justice cannot. For nearly 15 years, there was no better connection for GLSP to Augusta GA, and the surrounding communities – and no clearer voice advocating for our clients throughout the state – than Reverend Terence A. Dicks."