Beverly Ann Greene Hickox

Beverly Ann Greene Hickox went Home to be with the Lord on November 6, 2018, surrounded by her family. Her service will be at 11:00 am on Saturday, November 10, 2018, at the Carson McLane Funeral Home. Reverend BJ Funk and Reverend Bob Moon will officiate. Visitation will be Friday evening from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be at McLane Riverview Memorial Gardens. Beverly was born on May 30, 1940, in Valdosta. She is preceded in death by her parents, Nelle and J.C. Greene, who were waiting expectantly to receive their oldest daughter into heaven.
Beverly retired from teaching English at Valdosta High School, where she was known for her strict adherence to the rules of her classroom. Students knew what she expected, but they also knew that Mrs. Hickox loved them. It was not unusual for her high school students to see her out in town and get a hug! She considered all her students “her children.”
She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, following in the footsteps of her mother in being asked to join this prestigious club for educators. Her academic achievements were many, starting with her being President of the Beta Club in high school, followed by the high honor of being Valedictorian of her high school class of 1958. She was chosen to attend Girl’s State in Athens. In her Senior year she was named a Senior Superlative and was voted Most Intellectual.
Honors for her excellent scholastic abilities continued all through her four years at Valdosta State College, and later as she received her master’s degree in English Education.
In college, she was the first recipient of the Annie Poe Hopper Award for academic achievement. She was also president of Kappa Delta Sorority, and under her leadership she moved this club to national status. She was a member of First United Methodist Church in Valdosta where she participated in Emmitt Pipkin’s Sunday School Class and also in his Bible Study Group.
One of Beverly’s talents was cooking. Every Wednesday, she delighted the faculty in the English Department with her homemade fudge. Another talent was that she was an accomplished pianist.
Learning always came easily to Beverly. She was an avid reader, usually finishing a book or two a week. She enjoyed being a member of the Literary Guild, where she was one time president and sometimes did the book reviews herself. While teaching at VHS, she and her husband led several tours of England with her high school students.
Beverly’s highest honor, however, would be that of rearing her two children, Elizabeth Criss, and her son, Dr. Brian Hickox. They were the lights of her life, along with her two granddaughters, Emily and Julia Criss. No challenge was too great where her children were concerned, and it was in times around the table with her family that Beverly was happiest.
She was married to John Hickox for 56 years. He became her faithful caregiver during the last years of her life, when difficulties became so large that Beverly was forced to spend each day in bed. She was completely dependent on John, and it was John who was able to bring a smile to her face and a chuckle to her spirit even on her hardest days.
Beverly is survived by her husband, John Hickox, her daughter, Elizabeth Criss, her granddaughters, Emily and Julia, her son, Dr. Brian Hickox and his wife, Amy, her sister, BJ Funk and BJ’s sons, Shawn Stafford and Chad Smith.
Beverly’s former students and colleagues are asked to serve as Honorary Pallbearers.
Memorials may be sent to the local Humane Society or to Seeing Eye in Morristown, New Jersey @ www.seeingeye.org. Condolences to the family may be conveyed online at www.mclanecares.com.