Hicks Funeral Home Celebrates 90 Years of Serving Southwest Arkansas
Earlier this month, a very significant milestone was observed by a southwest Arkansas business. Hicks Funeral Home in Hope officially turned 90 years old on March 9th. The business was a pioneering one for southwest Arkansas and has brought comfort to hundreds, possibly thousands, of area families.According to Gloria Hicks McFadden, the daughter of founder Roland A. Hicks, “At that time, the closest Black funeral Home was John J. Jones in Texarkana.” Mrs. McFadden noted the African-American community in Hope was served by Herndon Funeral Home.Mr. Hicks was a graduate of Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, and obtained his degree in mortuary sciences in 1933 from the Guyton-Jones School of Embalming. He was from Norphlet, a small town near El Dorado. Said Mrs. McFadden, “Dr. (LaDell) Douglas’s father E.D. Douglas, Attorney John Walker’s grandfather Professor J.W. Walker, and Dora Kerns’ father all heard that Daddy had graduated. So the three gentlemen went to Norphlet to see if he would come up here.” Mrs. McFadden said the first Hicks Funeral Home was at 213 East Third and also on that block was a doctor, a typesetter, and a Black movie theater. Mrs. McFadden said the Herndons were instrumental in helping Mr. Hicks get the equipment he needed to open.
Mr. Hicks was eventually joined by his brothers Roger, Frank, and Curtis. Some other men who worked with Mr. Hicks included T.C. Davis and William Muldrew, father of long- time Hope educators Kenneth, Larry and Darryl Muldrew.
Times were challenging in the 1930’s when the Hicks Funeral Home was established. Sometimes families could only offer produce and wild game for their burial dues. “We ate many rabbits,” said Mrs. McFadden. Mr. Hicks even sometimes received cotton as a payment. Some families even shared their ration stamps during War World II. “One thing we’ve tried to do through the years, and still try to do, is maintain our prices so our families in the community can afford them,” said Mrs. McFadden.
Hicks Funeral Home at one point did 275 funerals per year as there was no other Black funeral home in the area. Mrs. McFadden noted they were doing funerals as far away as Okolona.
The second generation joined the funeral home as they came of age. These workers included Roland Hicks, Jr., and Sylvester Hicks. Mrs. McFadden includes herself in the second generation of family in the funeral home, along with Shirley Hicks Davis. The third generation includes Marc McFadden, Sharman Johnson. The fourth generation includes Monica R. Johnson. Mrs. McFadden said they’re very grateful for the young people who have worked at the funeral home.
She said they have a lot to be thankful for. “Families have been very, very loyal and supportive; and we’re still here 90 years later,” said Mrs. McFadden.
Hicks Funeral Home has seen many changes over the years. Mrs. McFadden noted for many years all caskets were made of wood and a seamstress near Lewisville sewed the linings. In the early years, Mr. Hicks often made house calls to prepare bodies for burial. Mrs. McFadden said many of the older residents saved for years so they could have a dignified funeral. A recent change in the past few years is the increase in cremation services.
Besides being an outstanding service to the community, the Roland Hicks Memorial Scholarship Fund has raised thousands of dollars to help local youth attend college. She noted the organization has raised well over $30,000 to help deserving young people seek higher education. They also helped provide funds for the Hope High Band to attend President Clinton’s inaugural parade in Washington D.C.
The Hicks Funeral Home has strived to provide dignified service to ALL the families they serve. “We’ve tried to work with the staff and have them understand it’s important that every family you wait on realizes you’re not going to lower the delivery of the professional services because theirs is not one of the more expensive services,” said Mrs. McFadden
The Arkansas State Senate recognized the Hicks Funeral Home last year and the Yerger Museum has also recognized the Hicks Funeral Home for their many years of service to our area.
The funeral home has remained family-owned for 90 years and Mrs. McFadden said there are no plans to change that. She said, “We’re just very grateful that people are still supportive and we want them to know how much we appreciate the loyalty. And we try to provide to them, each family, the most professional services we can.”