Biography: Basil Virgil Hicks, Senior died Tuesday, November 24, 2009 at the age of 92. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Mary Dale Drennan Hicks, their four children: Basil V. Hicks, Jr., wife Crickett of North Little Rock; Olivia Hicks and partner Carol Buell of New York City; John Hicks, wife Marjorie of Canton, Georgia; and Clyde Hicks, wife Gerry of Frederick, Maryland and six grandchildren: Basil Hicks, III, John Andrew Hicks, Julie Hicks, Drennan Hicks, John Baker Hicks, Helen Hicks- Buell and by two brothers: Doin Hicks of Deale, Maryland and Roy Hicks of Somerset, Kentucky. Basil was born near Wasola, Missouri on Friday the 13th of July, 1917. (He always said it was his lucky day.) He was the eldest of the six children of Clyde and Delpha Hicks, who were faithful members of the Wasola General Baptist Church. He was befriended by Dr. John Crockett, a Presbyterian minister who traveled through this area looking for boys he could help. He assisted Basil in entering the School of the Ozarks near Branson, Missouri, a boarding school where he worked his way through the last two years of high school and then with Dr. Crockett’s assistance and encouragement entered Arkansas College (now Lyon College) in Batesville, Arkansas. During his years at Arkansas College, he was called to the ministry and following graduation pursued his goal at Columbia Seminary in Decatur, Georgia. There he met his wife to be, Mary Dale Drennan, who was a student at Agnes Scott College. He was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1943, married Dale on May 25 of that year, and proceeded to Statesboro, Georgia for his first pastorate. Other pastorates were Arkadelphia, Arkansas, Hazard Kentucky, North Little Rock, Arkansas, Oakland, Florida and Monticello, Arkansas where he retired and lived until he and Dale moved to Presbyterian Village in 1989. Basil was dedicated to the Lord’s work, which in addition to his pastoral duties was evidenced by completed church building projects in Arkadelphia, North Little Rock, and Oakland, Florida. Basil was not idle in retirement, serving as interim pastor in several churches, including two in Scotland. Despite an always busy schedule, Basil was not without the time to spend with Dale and the children. Both he and Dale were closely involved with the education, sports, and other pursuits of their three sons and daughter. Family activities included the pursuit of outdoor recreation, primarily hunting and fishing, including annual trips to Alaska He also maintained a bountiful garden into his 90th year. Basil loved the Lord and his family, which his family, friends, and colleagues recognized many times during his career. His honors and awards are numerous, but he was most proud of the honorary doctorate he received from Lyon College. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be given to the Clyde and Delpha Beasley Hicks Endowed Scholarship at Lyon College, Trinity Presbyterian Church in Little Rock, Arkansas, or Presbyterian Village Foundation. A Memorial Service will be held at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 4501, Rahling Road, Little Rock, Arkansas, at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 28, 2009.