AMERICUS — John Marion Hicks, age 89, of 303 Sun Valley Drive, died at Phoebe Sumter Medical Center Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2016. A native of Atlanta, he was born May 16, 1927, the son of the late Lennie and Lillian Hicks. Mr. Hicks served in the Navy during World War II on the USS Baltimore. He moved to Americus from Columbus in 1965. He was a member of First Baptist Church where he was a deacon and a Sunday school teacher. He served in the Kairos Prison Ministry and was a part of the Emmaus Group. He was a member of the R.O.M.E.O. lunch group. Mr. Hicks loved golfing, traveling to see his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and he always had a humorous joke for every occasion.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 22, 2016, at First Baptist Church with the Rev. Keith Parks and the Rev. Rusty Mauldin officiating. Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. at Park Hill Cemetery, 4161 Macon Road, Columbus GA 31907. The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2016, at Greg Hancock Funeral Chapel. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Helen Hicks Memorial Fund, in care of First Baptist Church of Americus, 221 S. Lee St., Americus GA  31709.

Survivors include four daughters, Marie Hicks Davis (Jim) of Appling, Susan Hicks Garbow of Grovetown, Beth Mushet (Jim) of Martinez and Joan Hicks Oliver of Conyers; 10 grandchildren, Lindsay Canjea, Julie Newman, Suzie Beman, Jay Davis, Thomas Clower, Stacy Clower, Sean Singletary, Spencer Singletary, Matthew Oliver, Kristen Reach; and four great-grandchildren, Alessa Clower, Hal, Bray and Knox Beman. He was preceded in death by his wife Helen Hicks; a daughter, Jean Hicks Clower; and a brother, L.C. Hicks.

You may sign the online guest book and share your own special thoughts and memories by visiting www.greghancockfuneralchapel.com.

Greg Hancock Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.