Hattie Mina Reid Hicky passed away on December 6, at the age of 94.  Born March 2, 1918 in Augusta to Walker Sydney Reid and Maud Winter Hack, she attended school in Madison and college at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, majoring in education, and going on to teach school in Brunswick.  She married Dan McHenry Hicky, Captain, United States Army Air Corps, on April 27, 1944 and was a military wife for the next 27 years, which carried her away from her Southern roots to live in 11 different states and even Japan.  During this time, she raised a daughter and two sons, served as a Red Cross Gray Lady, took and taught Japanese flower arrangement classes, taught home nursing and Japanese Bride School classes to Japanese women marrying American service members, delivered mail for an independent postal service in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and earned her real estate license there.

Solicitous of her Southern upbringing she would always tell those she met that she always went by “Hattie Mina” to honor both her Southern grandmother, Hattie Hack, and her Northern grandmother, Wilhemina Walker.

After her husband’s retirement from the Air Force in 1971, Hattie Mina and Dan spent over 40 years in Madison, living next door to her old family home.  She took an active role in keeping and honoring Madison’s heritage, helping restore Dan’s family home and working with the Madison Chamber of Commerce as she ran Regal Tours for many years, which included step-on bus tours of Madison.

 Hattie Mina also published a book, “As It was Told to Me;” a candid history of the homes in Madison with recipes from their owners.

Hattie Mina was a member the American Association of University Women, the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Colonial Dames, and the Morgan County Landmarks Society.  She and her husband were members of the Morgan County Historical Society for almost 40 years and were both honored for their participation in acquiring and restoring Heritage Hall in Madison for public visitation.  She was named Morgan County’s “Woman of Achievement” in 1982 and was a member of the Madison First United Methodist Church.

Hattie Mina was predeceased by her son, Dan McHenry Hicky, Jr., Capt., U.S. Air Force, and her husband of 66 years, Dan McHenry Hicky, Col., U.S. Air Force (Retired).  She is survived by her daughter Mina Reid Lujan, her son John Stratton Hicky, CDR, U.S. Navy (Retired), her daughter-in-law Bonnie Long Hicky; four grandchildren, Laura Louise Lujan, Lea Marie Flores, Morgan Fay Hicky, and Dana Shelby Hicky; grandson in-law Fernando Flores, and three great-grandchildren, Joseph Alexander Flores, Isaiah Gabriel Flores, and Noah Joshua Flores.

A memorial service was held at the First United Methodist Church on Sunday, December 9 at 3 p.m.  Memorials for Hattie Mina Hicky may be made to The Source of Light Missions International, 1011 Mission Rd, Madison, Georgia 30650; or the Morgan County Public Library, 1131 East Ave., Madison, Georgia 30650.

Printed in the December 13, 2012 edition