Josephine H. Hicks

Josephine Holleman Hicks (Jo), from Atlanta, Georgia, and later from Dothan, Alabama went to be with the Lord on November 5, 2025, at age 106. She was born in Rebecca, Georgia in 1919 to the late William Franklin Holleman of Rebecca and Dennie Josephine Baggett of Milligan, Florida.

Josephine was one of three siblings, including the late William B. Holleman and Donald C. Holleman, also born in Rebecca. The family resided in Rebecca and later moved to Hallandale, Florida when Josephine was two years old. Her father died prematurely, and the family moved back to Milligan, when Josephine was ten years old.

Josephine attended elementary school in Milligan FL, skipping grades, allowing her to graduate from Baker High School early in 1936 at age 16. She taught elementary school while pursuing her college degree at night and in summers. She graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1950 and later went on to receive a Master of Science degree in 1956. Like her mother, teaching was her passion. She was an elementary school teacher for her entire career.

She married Atlanta native Robert Hicks in 1960 and moved to Atlanta, lived in Sandy Springs, GA, and attended Dunwoody Methodist Church. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, an international professional honorary society for women educators. When she retired, she and Bob enjoyed traveling the world. She amazed her family and friends with detailed stories of her early years and travels, up until she passed away.

After her beloved husband, Bob, passed away at the age of 97, Jo moved to Dothan Alabama to be near her two nieces Patricia (Josephine) Holleman Noble and Sandra (Josephine) Holleman Eden. Her relatives joyfully travelled to Dothan to celebrate her 104th,105th and 106th birthdays. On her 105th birthday the “Dothan Eagle” newspaper honored her by printing an article with picture about her life, on their front page. She listened to sermons from her Atlanta church on her phone every week and was celebrated by Dunwoody Methodist as their oldest member.

She is survived by stepsons Rand Hicks and Wayne Hicks, also award-winning students at FSU, and nieces Patsy H. Noble, Sandra H. Eden, Lucille H. O’Neal, nephew Frank B. Holleman, cousins Max Baggett, Sue McLeod Holland, Clair McLeod Muller, Penny McArthur Janowski, and many others.

Jo was the matriarch and life of the family. Because of her sharp memory she contributed detailed information to the family genealogical records. We will miss her dearly.

The funeral will be held November 16th at H.M. Patterson and Son Arlington Chapel, 173 Allen Road NE, Sandy Springs, Georgia. Visitation will begin at 1:00 PM with the memorial service to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Dunwoody Methodist Church, 1548 Mt Vernon Rd. Dunwoody GA 30338.