Albert Martin Hicks

Albert Martin Hicks, of Greenville, South Carolina died peacefully and at home on Friday, July 2, 2021. He was surrounded by family and under the compassionate care of his loving and dedicated daughter Jaymee Hicks and Pruitt Hospice. Albert was born August 22, 1929 in Jersey City, NJ, the son of Mary and Albert Raymond Hicks. His father ensured Albert was well prepared for life and made education a focus of his early life. Albert embraced this and was a distinguished graduate of Xavier Jesuit Military High School in Manhattan, NY, St. Peter’s College (49’) in Jersey City, NJ and the US Navy Officer Candidate School in Newport, RI. He then honorably served as a US Naval Officer on the USS Des Moines during the Korean War. Education remained a lifelong focus and he embraced learning and instilled this in his family and those that came for his advice, which he offered without reservation and editing.

His career in business was long and accomplished, working at Colgate Palmolive, Polymer Industries and finally as President of Phillips Executive Search in Greenville SC for almost 30 years. But work was only one aspect of his life, raising a family was his true avocation and dedication. Albert valued communication and his family and friends enjoyed weekly phone calls and numerous notes and cards (signed off as ‘Himself’). Al and Joyce insured that along with education, the family would enjoy activities that could be done together. Sailing, skiing, hiking, beachcombing, travel, tennis and golf were joys that the Hicks family would relish together in many of Al’s favorite places including Cape Cod, the South Carolina Coast and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Albert will always be known by family and friends as the ‘Master of the Picnic’. This combination and communion of family, nature and fine food was central to Al’s celebration of life and was his distinctive way to bring people together no matter the season, location or weather.

Al was married for 60 years to the love of his life, best friend and traveling companion, Joyce Carey Hicks. He dedicated his final efforts and energies to care for Joyce in her dignified and challenging struggle with Alzheimer’s. Joyce was able to pass away at home in 2015, due to his and Jaymee’s loving efforts. Only after she passed was he able to cease work and truly retire after a long life of scholarship, Naval service, business management and care taking.

Those who knew him well or simply became acquainted with him, recognized his big personality, ability to listen, joy of life and importance of family and friendships.

Albert was preceded in death by his wife Joyce Carey, his only sibling Joan Hicks Tice, (who he loved and remembered to the end) and his double first cousin and brother-like mentor, Dr. Robert Hicks. He is survived and will always be remembered by his children and their spouses, David and Maryteresa of Westport, Massachusetts, Joyce Marie (Jaymee) of Greenville, South Carolina, Sara and John Shea of Worcester, Massachusetts, Peter and Linda of Colleyville, Texas. He is also survived by his caring and vibrant sister in law, Judy Tomanek and her family of Old Lyme, Connecticut. His grandchildren ( Peter, Erin and Meagan Shea and Jordan, Evan and Tristan Hicks) will have lasting memories of his unique character, memorable events and especially his dinner time anthem of “Hail, Hail the Gangs All Here’ whenever the family gathered to break bread.

There will be a private Celebration of Albert and Joyce’s lives in the fall of 2021. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Albert and Joyce’s name to Cure Alzheimer’s Fund (Wellesley Hills, MA) or your local hospice organization. Most importantly you can enjoy family and friends on a picnic of your making.

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