Curtis was born September 27, 1929, in Memphis, Tennessee, to Lewis and Gladys Bicknell. He is survived by his wife, Wanda Thomas Bicknell, to whom he was married for nearly 60 years, and two children, Gina (David) Smith and Curt (Christy) Bicknell. He was a grandfather to three, Anna (Nate) Wilson, Will (Kaitlin) Smith, and Emma Samantha Bicknell, and a great-grandfather to six, Manning, Ellie, and Tate Wilson and Elizabeth, Patrick, and Liam Smith, who all call him, “Papa.” Curtis was preceded in death by his parents and four siblings. In his last days often talked of reuniting with his family in Heaven.
Curtis graduated from Tech High School in 1948, where he loved playing football. He also loved baseball and played catcher in baseball leagues across the city for many years. After graduation, he left Memphis to serve his country in the U.S. Army as a Physical Trainer and Combat Engineer during the Korean War. He spent his early career working in his family’s grocery business and later served the Lord by managing Christian bookstores at Crichton College and Bellevue Baptist Church, where he opened the first bookstore in 1980 and retired after 20 years of service in 2000. At Bellevue, he served as a deacon, taught 5th-grade boys Sunday School, and volunteered in the nursery and in the Evangelism Explosion ministry. Most recently, he was a member of Faith Baptist Church, Bartlett, where he served in the Missions ministry in Beach Club, an after-school program for children, and Brinkley Heights Ministries, where he counseled and shared the gospel with people in need.
“Mr. B,” as he was affectionately called by many, was a true servant. He served and loved his family sacrificially, as Christ serves and loves the church. Through the bookstore ministry, he faithfully served countless people in the Memphis area and around the country, pastors and seminary students, and church members by providing biblically and theologically sound materials to guide them into a deeper walk with Christ.
Curtis loved to share Jesus with anyone who would listen–from customer service phone agents to service repairmen in his home–he wanted everyone to know Jesus. Curtis also loved to study and talk about prophecy. As a young believer, he attended prophecy classes at Mid-South Bible College, and he longed to see the day that Jesus would return for his church and be in the presence of His Lord and Savior.
The family will receive friends at Faith Baptist Church, Bartlett TN, from 10:00 am – 12:00 noon on Tuesday, December 20, 2022 with a funeral to follow at 12:00 noon. Services are under the direction of Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens-Bartlett. In lieu of flowers the family requests a memorial donation be made to: American Family Association, P. O. Drawer 2440, Tupelo, MS 38803 or online at https://afr.net/donate, Brinkley Heights Ministries, 3286 Rosamond Avenue, Memphis, TN 38122, or Samaritan’s Purse, PO Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607 or Curtis’ memorial page is now active and may be viewed by clicking on the following link: https://sampur.se/3WaYE6y
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MemphisFuneralGermantownParkway.com for the Bicknell family.
