Maxie Bell Hart Hicks

Maxie Bell Hart Hicks, 94 years old, left her earthly home on February 12, 2012. She had lived most of her adult life in Laurel, MS, and was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Joseph Lee Hicks. She has been living at Highland Home for the past ten years in Jackson, MS area, near her daughter, Judy. Funeral services will be held at Memory Chapel Funeral Home on Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 2:00 pm in Laurel, Mississippi. Visitation will be from 12 noon to 2:00 pm on the same day. Burial will be at Memorial Gardens on Highway 184 following the service. Reverend John Cockrell will officiate. Maxie Hart Hicks was born on August 23, 1917 to J. P. and Bessie May Hart in Brookhaven, MS. After her mother’s death, and her father’s marriage to Mattie Elizabeth, the family moved to Winnsboro, LA where she enjoyed life with eight brothers and one sister. After high school, she moved to Laurel where she became a registered nurse, attending school at Laurel General Hospital. While living in Laurel, she met and married Joseph Lee Hicks in 1940, and raised three children, while pursuing her nursing career, mainly as a private duty nurse, working primarily with critically ill patients. Maxie or “Hart”, as she was known by so many, was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and sister. She was a wonderful cook, an excellent seamstress, and a loved and highly respected registered nurse holding several offices with the Nurses Association. She was a devoted Christian, and an active member of Wildwood Baptist Church while in Laurel. She was admired by all who knew her for the dedication, smiles and love she shared with everyone in all aspects of her life, and she will be greatly missed. Maxie was also preceded in death by her parents, J. P. and Bessie Hart; her beloved step-mother, Mattie Elizabeth Hart; seven brothers, Bernard, Leo, Durwood, Lanier, Marvin, J. E. and Frank Hart; and one sister, Nell Hart Netherland, all of LA; and a son-in-law, Jimmy M. Yelverton of Ellisville, MS. She is survived by her three children, daughter, Judy Hicks Murphy (Glenn) of Jackson; son, J. Lowery Hicks (Linda) of Petal; and daughter, Kathy Hicks Yelverton Poole (Barney, Jr.) of Moselle; four grandchildren with eight great-grandchildren, Scott Murphy (Christy), with Josh and Cori; Blake Murphy (Lisa), with Meghan; Jennifer Hicks Boykin (Justin), with Brandy and Ally Grace; Chad Cassatt, with Devin Cassett and Taylor McAllister. Seven step-grandchildren and seven step-great grandchildren, Stacey Yelverton (Teresa) with Ashley; Shane Yelverton (Marsha) with Sam; Santrelle Y. Davis with Teri; Barney Poole, III (Becky) with Reagan and Jackson; Claire P. Caire (James); Janice P. Grantham (Josh) with Carrera and Shelby; and Hannah Poole. She is also survived by one brother, Bobby Ray Hart and one sister-in-law, Dorothy Hart, in Louisiana, and one sister-in-law, Lil Hart in MS. She has a host of nieces and nephews. If you choose, in lieu of flowers for her service, memorials may be made to your favorite charity. Memory Chapel of Laurel is in charge of the arrangements.

Maxie Bell Hart Hicks

September 26, 1976 - February 12, 2012