Dewitt Hicks

Dewitt T. Hicks, Jr. of Columbus, Mississippi was born June 1, 1933 and went to be with the Lord August 10, 2022 after a courageous battle.  Dewitt is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Grayce Harkey Hicks and their three children; son, Dewitt Talmadge Hicks, III of Dallas, Texas, daughter Vicki Hicks Hardy (Kirk) of Columbus and Gracie Hicks Rowland also of Columbus.  Dewitt is also survived by his grandchildren whom he adored; David Hardy (Sarah), William Hardy, Natalie Hardy, Talmadge Hicks, Brooke Hicks, Rachael Rowland, and Gracie Rowland.

He was born in Memphis, Tennessee to the late Dewitt T. and Bertie Oakley Hicks and grew up in Sledge, Mississippi.  He graduated from Sledge High School where he was Valedictorian and voted Most Likely to Succeed. Being an excellent athlete in high school, he was named “All Delta” basketball player and played on an American Legion State Championship Baseball Team.  He graduated from Mississippi State University, Magna Cum Laude, where he was President of the Student Body.  He was also a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity where he was elected president of the chapter, in addition to being selected as a recipient of the Balfour Award.  He was also a member of ODK, prestigious honor society at Mississippi State.

After graduation from Mississippi State, he was an Air Force Bomber Pilot with the Strategic Air Command.  Through his best friend in the Air Force, he was introduced to his sister, Grayce, a student at SMU, who would later become his wife.  Dewitt graduated from the University of Mississippi Law School where he was Editor in Chief of the MS Law Journal, and President of the Law School Student Body.

Dewitt lived an enormously full life serving his Lord in many ways.  Dewitt was a servant with a servant’s heart.  His favorite Bible verse was, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthened me.”  Dewitt was a devoted member of First United Methodist Church where he served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Chairman of the Administrative Board, and Chairman of the Staff Parish Relations Committee. He was a member of the Lewis Fellowship Sunday School Class for many years where he taught on rotating basis.  He also served on the Board of Palmer Home for Children for over forty years and served as Chairman of the Board.

In keeping with his servant heart he served as Chairman of the Board of the Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau for over twenty years, President of the Kiwanis Club, Chairman of the Columbus-Lowndes Economic Development Board, where he was named Volunteer of the Year.  He was also President of United Way of Lowndes County.  Mr. Hicks was named 1990 Pilgrimage Ball King, and Columbus Citizen of the Year. In his professional life, Dewitt dedicated nearly half a century in the defense of municipalities and counties across North Mississippi.  He served as City Judge for Columbus and later as City Attorney for many years.  He was the recipient of the MDLA Lifetime Achievement Award, for which he was most deserving.

Not only did Dewitt have a brilliant legal career, but he chose to share his blessings and give of himself to his community and his state. He served as past President of the Mississippi Bar Foundation and was instrumental in the establishment and construction of the Mississippi Law Center.  He is listed in Who’s Who in American Trial Lawyers and had a Martindale and Hubbell AV Rating.  He was a founding member and managing partner of Gholson, Hicks, and Nichols law firm.  He was one of Mississippi’s Most Senior attorneys in active practice and leaves a legacy of community service, devotion to the law, loyalty to friends and love of family.

Dewitt’s greatest blessings in his life was his service to his community, his love for his wife, children and grandchildren and his Faith in Jesus Christ.

Services will be held at First United Methodist Church in Columbus at 2:00 PM on Saturday, August 13, 2022 with visitation from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM prior to the service.  Interment at Friendship Cemetery immediately after the service.

Serving as pallbearers will be David Hardy, William Hardy, Talmadge Hicks, John Harkey, Jr., John Stevenson, Jr., Norman Ford, Jim Halveston and Toby Lott.

Honorary pallbearers are Joe Gillis, Taylor Smith, Mack Howard, Mark Bean, Frank Howell, Bud Phillips, Bobby Boozer, Brad Brown, John Beard, Steve Ferraez, Fred Hall, members of Lewis Fellowship Class, Gawyn Mitchell, Dr. Julius Kato, Dr. William Rosenblatt, Frank Crosthwait, Lydia Quarles, and Marguerite Griffith.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to First United Methodist Church of Columbus, P. O. Box 32, Columbus, MS  39703.