Mary Dale Drennan Hicks

Mary Dale Drennan Hicks died Saturday, June 18, 2016 at the age of 95. She was preceded in death by her husband, Basil Virgil Hicks, Sr. She is survived by her four children: Basil V. Hicks, Jr., wife Crickett of North Little Rock; Olivia Hicks and her spouse Carol Buell of New York City; John Hicks, wife Marjorie of Canton, Georgia, and Clyde Hicks, wife Gerry of Frederick Maryland and six grandchildren: Basil Hicks, III, John Andrew Hicks, Julie Hicks, Drennan Hicks, John Baker Hicks, and Helen Hicks-Buell. Dale was born in Fayetteville, Tennessee, a small town in middle Tennessee on October 7th, 1920. She was the youngest daughter of John Calvin and Grace Olivia Prosser; her older sister, an accomplished musician, Lenore died in 1976. Her family were pillars of the First Presbyterian of Fayetteville. Her father was a clothier, banker and lecturer for the anti saloon. Their home two blocks off the square was a warm and welcoming place and there were often guests for dinner. Dale attended Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Ga. and graduated in 1942. While there she met her future husband as he was attending Columbia Seminary. They married in May 25, 1943 in Fayetteville. Her husband's first pastorate was in Statesboro, Ga. From there they moved to Arkadelphia, Ark., then Hazard, Ky. for five years and on to North Little Rock, Ark. in 1954. Before moving Little Rock to live at Presbyterian Village in 1989, they lived in Monticello, Ark. where Basil had his last church. In all of these locations Dale was a leader in the Christian Education activities of the churches. For many years she travelled every summer to training programs on Sunday school curriculum. Dale and Basil were a team when it came to all the responsibilities of the church and the needs of the congregations. At the same time Dale was a stay at home mom who catered to her four children and encouraged their involvement in any and all activities such as piano lessons, basketball, violin lessons, scouting. After coming to Little Rock, Dale became involved in teaching literacy to adults and became a hospice volunteer. She loved meeting and getting to know people from many parts of the world when teaching English. Dale and Basil traveled many places after Basil's retirement while living in an independent apartment at Presbyterian Village (China, Russian, New Zealand and Scotland several times). In all the places that Dale and Basil lived, Dale was a trusted confidant to many in the congregations. She made many friends with whom she kept up over the years and she had several old friends who also lived at Presbyterian Village who predeceased her. Dale's faith was central to her life. She was even concerned about missing her Bible study group two days before she died. She believed in treating all people with respect and dignity and taught her children this. Needless to say, this was during very troubled times in the South. Dale supported her children without judgment as they grew up, finished their education and became independent, and made choices about their adult lives. Dale had a great sense of humor and maintained that her 95 years. She was always interested in local and national politics; she probably got this from her father. Until the day she died, she was following the national presidential contest. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be given to the Trinity Presbyterian Church in Little Rock, Ark., Presbyterian Village Foundation, Little Rock, Ark. or Clyde and Delpha Beasley Hicks Endowed Scholarship at Lyon College, Batesville, Ark. A memorial service will be held at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 4501 Rahling Road, Little Rock, Arkansas at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday June 23, 2016, followed by a reception. Arrangements by Ruebel Funeral Home, www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.