"font-family:">On a sunny, calm autumn afternoon, the family and friends of Jane French Hicks, 74, of Magnolia Springs bade her a loving farewell. After a long and courageous struggle against pancreatic cancer, Jane died peacefully in her home, surrounded by her immediate family on Sunday, Oct. 30, 2011.
"font-family:">On the previous evening, her pastor, friend and priest, the Rev. George G. Riggall, rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Magnolia Springs, led for Jane prayers of Commendation for the Departing in the company of her extended family and several caregivers.
"font-family:">Jane’s funeral service and memorial, including celebration of the Holy Communion, took place Nov. 1, 2011 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, with the Rev. George G. Riggall officiating. The Committal Service followed with interment in Pine Rest Memorial Park in Foley.
"font-family:">She was born Nov. 28, 1936 in Birmingham, the younger daughter of Charles Haywood and Mary Mildred French. She attended city schools, and was a member of the National Honor Society at Ramsay High School.
"font-family:">Jane attended Birmingham-Southern College, and transferred to the University of Alabama in her junior year to attain a bachelor’s degree in her field of interest, domestic science, in 1958.
"font-family:">That summer she married Herbert Gosa Hicks of Eutaw, Ala., an engineering graduate of Georgia Tech.
"font-family:">Following their wedding trip, the couple settled on the UA campus, where Jane earned her master’s degree in textiles and design, and earned both his master’s degree and PhD. in management.
"font-family:">Jane was an artist, having also studied classical at Birmingham-Southern. She was a prolific artist after retiring with Herb to Magnolia Springs, displaying her canvases in the Foley Civic Center and the Fairhope Art Gallery.
"font-family:">She was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Chapel, where she was part of the Altar Guild, and was chairperson of the United Thank Offering. She was also a member of the Magnolia Springs Garden Club.
"font-family:">Jane was preceded in death by her parents, Charles H. (state circulation manager of the Birmingham News and the Birmingham Post-Herald for 45 years) and Mildred B. French (former elementary school and art teacher, and later employee of Jobe Rose Jewelry Co.); her maternal grandmother, Flora Liles Brummitt; aunts, Flora B. Edwards, Billie B. Cannon, Anna Lee Brummitt and Bessie French Cullen; and uncles, Max French and Frank French; and a number of cousins.
"font-family:">Survivors include her husband of 53 years, Herbert G. Hicks PhD. of Magnolia Springs; daughter, Caren H. Pourciau and her husband, Dusty, of Zachary, La.; son, Carl French Hicks and his wife, Susan, of McKinney, Texas; five grandchildren, Cole Pourciau and Grant Pourciau of Baton Rouge, La., and Jordan Hicks, Justin Hicks and Jana Hicks of McKinney, Texas; a sister, Elaine F. Palmer and her husband, S. Donald, of Magnolia Springs; two nieces, Anna P. Price and her husband, Terry, of Mobile and Ellen P. Corte and her husband, Albert, of Daphne; nephew, Charles Stanford Persons and his wife, Kathy, of Foley; three sisters-in-law, Jean H. Williams of Tuscaloosa, Dorothy H. Winston of Baton Rouge and Bobbie H. Ingram of Box Springs, Ga.; 10 great-nieces and great-nephews; and other relatives and friends.
"font-family:">The family suggests that donations marked “Memorial, Jane Hicks” be given to St. Paul’s Episcopal Chapel, P.O. Box 2, Magnolia Springs, AL 36555. You may also send a donation to United Thank Offering by marking the check “UTO, Memorial, Jane Hicks.”
"font-family:">Arrangements by Pine Rest Funeral Home, Foley.
