Benjamin Wallace Hicks

Benjamin Wallace Hicks died September 17, 2009. He was born November 20, 1923 to Dudley and Myrtis (Merrill) Hicks in Truman, Arkansas. He is survived by one brother, Roy (Buck) Hicks of Memphis, Tennessee, two sisters: Eunice Wilkerson of Granite City, Illinois, and Helen Holland of Alvin, Texas; and many nephews and nieces.

He is survived by his wife Helen (Gill), her daughters Deborah Terry (David), Denisa Jones (Benjamin), and Belinda McKim (Mike); and by her four grandchildren. He is survived by two daughters: Brenda Laird, and her children Joy and Ladd; and Zora Rubenstein, and her daughters Jessica and Melissa; and by three great-grandchildren.

Predeceased by his wife Royce (Wright), he is survived by their daughter Andrea Jaber (Thomas), her children Benjamin, Patricia, and Joseph; and by their son, Ben Wallace, known as Buddy Ben.

A 1949 graduate of The University of Arkansas where he majored in journalism, Mr. Ben was the former owner, editor, and publisher of The England Democrat, which he proudly claimed “the finest newspaper in South Lonoke County”. A veteran of World War II, he flew numerous missions as a co-pilot in the U.S. Air Force. A life-long Methodist, he served The First Methodist church in England as a member of the Board of Stewards, and the Adult Choir.

Visitation will be from 6 until 8 pm on Saturday, September 19, at Roller-England Funeral Home. The funeral service will be held at 2:00 pm on Sunday, September 20, at The First United Methodist Church in England. Pallbearers will be Jimmy Dean, Bill Reed, Laudies Brantley, Tony Dickinson, Neil Compton, and Tommy Smith. Honorary Pallbearers will be Carroll King, Darryl Ratliff, Billy Gibbs, Charlie Taylor, Gene Oyler and Jerry Jackson.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Arkansas Human Development Center, 150 E. Siebenmorgan Rd., Conway, Arkansas 72032 or The First United Methodist Church, 200 N. E. 2nd, England, Arkansas 72046.