Dickens Q. Fournet has been selected as the recipient of the 2025 MSCPA Public Service Award, which recognizes a Mississippi CPA who has exhibited a distinguished record of personal commitment to community, charitable, civic, and public service activities, and enhanced the professional image of CPAs. He was recognized during the Business Meeting at the Annual Convention at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in Destin on Saturday, June 21. Most deserving of this award, Dickens genuinely cares and serves from his heart.

Dickens grew up in Jackson, MS and attended St. Joseph High School where he excelled in sports and student affairs. He attended Mississippi State University continuing in various campus leadership positions. Following in the footsteps of his maternal grandfather, Dick D. Quinn (MSCPA President 1938-39 and founder of the firm which ultimately was acquired by Peat Marwick & Mitchell, now KPMG), Dickens earned his accounting degree. Upon graduation, he began work with Koury, Ready & Butler and then May & Company. Later Dickens joined Poole Cunningham & Reitano which merged to become GranthamPoole, PLLC where is a partner.

He became active in the MSCPA serving in numerous capacities, including Secretary and Vice-President of Membership for the Central Chapter, and serving as the chapter representative on the Board of Governors for multiple terms. Dickens is also a long-time member of the Governmental Accounting and Auditing Committee.

In addition to his professional work, Dickens was actively involved in St. Richard Catholic Church as an usher, Advisory Board member and Treasurer, and REACH volunteer (Religious Education of the Community Handicapped). He has served on the board and as Treasurer for St. Joseph Catholic School as well. Dickens is a former Secretary and Vice-President for the St. Dominics Health Services Foundation and currently serves as Chairman.

Dickens has also assumed numerous leadership positions for non-profit organizations. He has been a board member and Treasurer for the Mississippi Opera Association, Mississippi/Louisiana Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, ALS Association of Mississippi, and Assisi Learning Center Advisory Board. He was also a member of Leadership Jackson in 2003-2004.

Dickens supports and participates in many charitable events and has a particular love for raising money. Affiliations include Special Olympics, Make a Wish, ALS, and Juvenile Diabetes. He has been active in the St. Jude Hero Foundation for many years and a volunteer for Hospice Ministries. His wife, Brandi, and son, John Brodie, share his passion for causes and often walk or run in marathons with him as a family.

His partner, Brad Hatchett, best describes Dickens when he said, “To all who know him, Dickens is a great individual and a valuable and loyal friend. He is extremely humble and always shines the light on others rather than himself."

Please join us in commending Dickens for his dedicated service to the profession and to his community and congratulating him as our 2025 Public Service Award recipient!