Sallie Read Hicks

Sallie Read Hicks, 90, passed away at home on July 13, 2019. Born in Nashville on May 19, 1929, Sallie was an only child who grew up mostly in Louisville and Pewee Valley, Ky., before returning to Nashville to attend the Ward-Belmont School. She is predeceased by her parents, Robert Rector Read and Sallie Herbert Read, and by her husband, George Thomas Hicks.

Sallie met fellow Nashvillian George Hicks in 1946 after he returned from serving as a civil engineer with the U.S. Navy in World War II, and they married in 1950. Together they raised six children while making their home for more than 30 years on a small horse farm (Knollwood Stables) near Percy Warner Park where they often hosted Middle Tennessee Pony Club activities. Drawing on their shared love of architecture, she and George took great joy in building and furnishing their home in Middleton in 1990, and for the last 11 years she lived with her daughter Susan in a home they designed and built together, also in Middleton. In this place, as in all of the homes Sallie made, she and her family shared much love, some sadness, and many large family gatherings punctuated by peals of laughter.

Sallie was known and loved by many for her exceptionally gracious and generous spirit. She and her devoted husband led a remarkably interesting life, both of them totally dedicated to their family, and they enjoyed traveling together, visiting museums, and attending auctions of antiques and fine art. With the help of Joseph Davis, Sallie recounted many of her favorite memories in a book recently published under the title A Year of Thanksgivings, in which she provided a unique and intimate record of her experiences and the challenges of her years. Sallie was spiritually devout and lived a life that fully embraced her faith. She had a special genius for saying and doing just the right thing and never wavered from giving her full awareness to those with whom she interacted, always leaving them amazed at her ability to make them feel elevated by her attention. Although the world already seems to those of us who love her to be a little less enchanted and magical without her in it, we all feel blessed to have been so thoroughly touched by her bright and lively spirit.

She was a member and past president of Chapter VII of the The Colonial Dames of America, the General James Robertson chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Centennial Club, and Junior League of Nashville. She was a communicant at the Cathedral of the Incarnation, where she served for many years as an Extraordinary Eucharistic Minister, taking communion to parishioners at Baptist Hospital and area nursing homes.

Sallie is survived by her six children: Judy Hicks Ison of Columbia, S.C.; Catharine Hicks Obolensky (David), George Hicks (Susanne), and Susan Thetford, all of Nashville; Sallie Talley (David) of Leiper’s Fork, Tenn.; and Robin Dahl Owens (Mike) of Lexington, Ky. She leaves 12 grandchildren: Jennifer Ison Cooke (Matt), Jason Talley (Amy), Read Talley (Danielle), Sarah Talley Roos (Zach), Natalya Obolensky Davis (Aaron), Rachael Porter Lodge (Dick), Octavia Obolensky Melly (Tommy), McClain Porter, John Thetford (Sarah), Sallie Thetford, Gus Dahl, and Thomas Hicks. She was blessed with nine great-grandchildren: Julia Claire Cooke, India Davis, Reagan Talley, Alexander Davis, Grey Roos, Sebastian Talley, Virginia Roos, Sofia Thetford, and Jack Lodge. Sallie is also survived by her caregiver, companion, personal assistant, and loyal friend of more than 15 years, Cleo Cockrill, whom we consider part of our own family. Her niece Claire Hicks Long of Hopkinsville, Ky., was always dear to her “Aunt Sallie,” and the two cherished the memories of their travels together.

Our family wishes to thank the caregivers from WholeCare and the nurses and staff of Caris Healthcare who provided compassionate and loving care for Sallie over the last few months. We also extend sincere thanks to Elizabeth Earthman and Paul Hubbuch, who served as her Lay Eucharistic Ministers when she became unable to attend mass.

Pallbearers are Gus Dahl, Thomas Hicks, McClain Porter, Jason Talley, Read Talley, and John O. Thetford. Honorary pallbearers are Joseph Davis, Harris Gilbert, Dr. W. Lawrence Long, David Obolensky, Mike Owens, Bob Schiel, David Talley, John M. Thetford, and Terry Tidwell.

The family will receive friends in the sanctuary of the Cathedral of the Incarnation from 9 to 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 20, with the funeral mass at 10 a.m. Burial will follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Cathedral of the Incarnation at 2015 West End Ave., Nashville TN 37203 or Shriners Hospitals for Children, Attn: Office of Development, 2900 N. Rocky Point Dr., Tampa FL 33607 or online at shrinershospitalsforchildren.org.