Earl Lee Dycus

Portrait of Earl Lee Dycus

Earl Lee Dycus was born in Detroit, Michigan, on March 14, 1954, to James Dycus and Genese Richardson Dycus. He passed away on April 11, 2020, at the Delta Regional Medical Center, after a lengthy battle with COVID-19. 

According to his online obituary, Earl was preceded in death by his parents, step-mother (Vergie Dycus), and brothers (Ricky Dycus, Kenneth Dycus, and Terry Dycus). Earl is survived by his loving wife, Barbara, to whom he has been married for 29 years. He is survived also by his daughters, Debbie Yates and Cathy Dycus; his grandchildren, Maribeth Jenkins, Brandon Lee, John Smith, Shanna Lee, Erica Smith, and Joseph Smith; and his “precious great-granddaughters,” Olivia Simmons and Mia Jenkins, as well as a host of loving nieces, nephews, and friends.

In 1985, Earl devoted himself to religion. Having “made a life-changing decision to surrender all to Jesus Christ,” Earl—described as “spiritually hungry”—”desired to be a more committed Christ follower through application of the many Bible studies he attended.” In 2009, Earl was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in Christian Ministry from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He dedicated his life’s focus to the scripture inscribed in the seal of this degree, Matthew 28:18-20: “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’”

In addition to his B.A. in Christian Ministry, Earl earned a certificate of completion in carpentry school and was a vocational graduate of horticulture. 

Earl was the 33rd person to die of COVID-19 in Mississippi Department of Corrections’ custody. Earl endured medical isolation after he began exhibiting symptoms of the virus. He was tested, but the results—positive—did not even return until after his death. Mississippi swept Earl and too many others under the rug. But Earl and his life—defined by dedication to family, friends, and God—will not be forgotten. We mourn his untimely passing. 

This memorial was written by MOL team member Frances Keohane with information from reporting by Jimmie E. Gates at The Clarion Ledger, The Yazoo Herald, and The Mississippi Department of Corrections.

Original artwork by MOL team member EJ Joyner.