James Ralph Hickman Sr.

JAMES RALPH HICKMAN, Sr. - age 84, passed away Tuesday, January 13 at Sacred Grounds Hospice in Knoxville. Ralph was born in Knoxville on December 19, 1941 to James E. Hickman and Mary McClellan Hickman. His family moved to Fountain City when Ralph was four years old, and he spent the rest of his life as a proud Fountain Citian. Ralph attended Fountain City Elementary School and Central High School, from which he graduated as a member of the Class of '59. Ralph attended the University of Tennessee, where he was a trumpet player with the Pride of the Southland Band. While he was a student at Central, he met a lively and musically talented classmate named Janice Privette. Ralph and Janice enjoyed their first date at Central's Class Night in 1959, and were married at Fountain City Presbyterian Church in 1964. Ralph joined his family's East Tennessee accounting firm in 1965, and following his father's death, Ralph continued as President of Sevierville's Hickman and Associates for the rest of his life. He was a member of the Sevierville Tuesday Lunch Club of Rotary International for 35 years, serving as an officer for much of that time. He was a member of Fountain City Presbyterian Church for seventy years, serving as Elder and Deacon. As a child, Ralph joined Fountain City's Boy Scout Troop 25, where he achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. He continued to devote his life in service to Boy Scouts and Troop 25, where he guided many boys to their Eagle Scout rank, including his three sons. In 2008, Ralph was presented with the Silver Beaver award by the Great Smoky Mountain Council, the highest honor awarded to Scouting volunteers by Boy Scouts of America. Ralph further served as a community volunteer by coaching Little League baseball at Fountain City Ball Park during the 80s and 90s. Ralph's greatest joy in life arrived when he became "Pop" to his grandson and five granddaughters. Together with Janice ("Mimi"), they spent each summer taking their grandchildren for fun-filled family beach weeks in South Carolina, as well as on amazing adventures all over the country, from NYC to the Alamo. Ralph enjoyed putting his grandchildren to work each year growing an enormous vegetable garden in the backyard of the Fountain City house in which he and Janice have made their family's home since 1965. Ralph is survived by his wife, Janice Privette Hickman, as well as by his sons and daughters in law, James Ralph, Jr. and Carol Hickman of Sevierville, Joe and Wendy Hickman of Knoxville, and Jonathan Hickman and Katie Allison, also of Knoxville. Ralph's beloved grandchildren are Afton and Tyne Hickman (James, Jr. and Carol), Harper and Dalton Hickman (Joe and Wendy), and Charlotte and Georgia Hickman (Jonathan and Katie). He was also blessed with three step-grandchildren, Henry, Jane, and Elliot Granju (Katie). Much loved friends whom Ralph considered part of his family are Gordon and Mary Lee Bohannan, Betsy Allison, and Eleanor, McLean, and Nancy Tant. Ralph is also survived by his sister Lee Anne Hickman and his brother Jon Hickman. Ralph was preceded in death by his parents, and by his brothers David and Robert Hickman. Receiving of friends will take place at 3pm on Saturday, January 17 at Fountain City Presbyterian Church, with a Celebration of Life to follow at 4pm. In lieu of flowers, Ralph's family asks that he be remembered with designated donations to Fountain City Presbyterian Church or to Fountain City Boy Scout Troop 25, both at 500 Hotel Rd Knoxville, TN 37918.