Elsie Gardener Hickam

I did not know your mother, only from the portrayal of her in "The Rocket Boys". I'm sure she was a wonderful lady and that you and your extended family miss her deeply. What is interesting, this morning I was going through an old scrap book of my mother's (who passed away in 1986 and would have been 101 years young this past Christmas Eve) and found a newspaper clipping of your mother and father's wedding announcement. Imagine my surprise! You see, my grandmother, my mother's mother, was...

Jim,Homer
So sorry to hear about your mother. She was a strong influence on both your lives and we wanted to send our condolences. Once again so sorry for your loss.

We lived and were active in the lovely Coalwood community until 1968 and was a member of the Woman's Club until that time with your Mother. She was always a big influence on the community, her husband and family and the woman of Coalwood; a great leader and good friend to all. She will be missed.

Jim, Homer & Families;
Know you will miss your mother and am glad that you had her as long as you did. Conley & I, brother & sister, are from Coalwood and graduates of Big Creek too. You're in our thoughts and prayers. Conley lives in Boones Mill, VA and I live in Salem.
Conley R. Coulson
Jeanette Coulson Webber
God bless you and yours.

Mr. Hickam and Family, I am sorry for your loss. I never met your Mother, but with fine sons as she brought up, she must have been excellent and I now live in the coal counties of Virginia so I do know some ladies that are as giving as your Mother was. May God Bless.

The McMillan and Fitzgerald families would like to offer our sincere condolences to the Hickam family. No doubt our families prayed together often at The Coalwood Church during those year's your mother and father lived there...a wonderful town...a wonderful place...Coalwood forever.

Homer, Linda, Jim and Betty Jane,
We were truely sorry to hear of the passing of Miss Elsie on Wednesday. We enjoyed many a visit with her talking about anything from rockets to our families. She always welcomed us into her home and family as if we were her own children. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of her family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all during this time.

Hi Homer and Linda, I never met your mother but my sister delivered the Welch Daily Telegraph and my dad worked with your dad in the mines. My sisters and I too graduated from Big Creek High. I'm sending deepest sympathy with love and prayers. Former Coalwoodian, Venus Cline Dell'Orso

Homer,

I never met you or your mother in person but I did call her once and spoke with her on the phone. I enjoyed the conversation very much and told her how much I enjoyed the movie October Sky and that it was one that I had watched over and over which is something I don't usually do. She sounded like a very nice lady and I know she will be missed by all who knew her. May God richly bless you and all your family during this time of sorrow and always is my prayer.