James Wallenger "Jim" Hicks

James Wallenger Hicks, 87, of Atlanta, Georgia and Sarasota, Florida, husband, father, grandfather, treasured friend to many, and lover of animals, passed away at his home in King’s Bridge Retirement Center on May 2, 2017.

Jim, as he was affectionately called by his family and friends, was the second son of Stewart Garfield Hicks and Almira Fisher Brown Hicks of Jacksonville, Florida. He was born on January 17, 1930 and grew up in Jacksonville with his two brothers, Thomas William Hicks and Stewart Dorman Hicks, and sister Dolly Garfield Hicks. His favorite and second home was in the small town of Frostproof, Florida where he spent every summer with his maternal grandmother Almira Fisher Brown.

Jim attended Andrew Jackson High School in Jacksonville, Florida and Frostproof High School, Frostproof, Florida, but was not graduated from either. He joined the United States Navy in 1947 and served in naval aviation as a Flight Controller in the Pacific, primarily in the Mariana Islands and the Philippines, until his discharge from the Navy in 1952.

After returning home from his military service, he resumed his education and entered the University of Florida where the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees were conferred in 1957. While a student at the University of Florida, he was chosen for the University of Florida Hall of Fame and elected to Florida Blue Key Honor Fraternity.

Following his graduation from the University of Florida in June 1957, he was employed by the Florida State Board of Health in a co-op program with the Public Health Service. In 1958, he became an employee of the Communicable Disease Center (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia. Following assignments in Florida, Jim was transferred to the city of Philadelphia as a contact interviewer in the epidemiology of Venereal Disease Control.

During his tour of duty in Philadelphia, Jim lived in Southern New Jersey where he met and married Dorothy M. Flynn of Haddonfield New Jersey. In 1963, Jim accepted the position of North Carolina Representative, where he served for three years as Chief Venereal Disease Program and Coordinator of the CDC Coop training program. In Raleigh, Jim and Dot were blessed with two sons, James Brown Hicks and Stewart Flynn Hicks.

In June 1966, Jim accepted the position of Administrative Officer in the West and Central Africa Smallpox Eradication and Measles Control Program and moved with his family to Lagos, Nigeria as part of the Regional Office Staff for the 20-country program.

In 1981, Jim accepted the position Assistant Director for Management of the Center for Infectious Disease where he served until retirement in October 1987. He was awarded the William C. Watson, Jr. Medal of Excellence in June 1987.

During their retirement years in Longboat Key and Sarasota, Florida, Jim and Dot participated in wildlife rescue, teaching boating classes and conducting safety patrols with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and the Sarasota Power Squadron. They returned to Georgia in 2000 to be closer to their grandchildren.

Throughout his life, and up until his last days, Jim was a faithful Sunday school teacher and devoted member of the Baptist Church Family.

In addition to his parents, Jim was preceded in death by his loving wife Dorothy F. Hicks.

He leaves behind his sons James B. Hicks and his wife, Angela, and Stewart Hicks and his wife, Joy; granddaughters Melanie, Brittany and Hannah; and several loving nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, May 5, 2017, at 10:30 am in the Pavilion at King’s Bridge, 3055 Briarcliff Rd NE, Atlanta.

Feel free to leave your condolences via the guestbook provided.