James Wendell Hicks

Jesus called Jimmy into the gates of Heaven on January 9, 2025, while surrounded by loved ones. In his 82 years, he became nothing short of a Legend in the eyes of not only his rather large family, but friends and neighbors as well.

Jimmy was born on October 5, 1942, in DeFuniak Springs, Florida. He completed his education in Okaloosa County and graduated from Choctawhatchee High School. He married the love of his life, Betty, in 1964 and began their family and what became a life full of great adventures. With enormous amounts of hard work and faith he became the captain of a fleet of shrimp boats: Little Joe, Family Affair, Family Pride, and Family Tradition. He became to shrimping what Babe Ruth was to baseball. From the Texas Gulf Coast to the Tampa Gulf Coast, shrimpers respected and admired his character and wisdom of his career on the water. People always knew if he was in his office (the wheelhouse), he was succeeding at everything he was doing and they were watching as well as learning. Shrimping wasn’t his job; it was another love. Jimmy loved to pay it forward to others as much as possible as this was engrained in him by his parents. Another life quote from his daddy was, “One work, we all work. One play, we all play.” In saying that, all types of hunting and fishing became loves as well. He worked hard, played hard, and deserved every moment of it. Jimmy treasured his family and showed that throughout his life by making memories throughout the generations. No matter what he was … husband, son, dad, grandpa, great-grandpa, brother, uncle, cousin, friend, captain, or neighbor, he touched lives and everyone touched his. We have all been blessed to have shared our lives with Jimmy and may the lessons of this Legend be passed on for years to come.

Jimmy was preceded in death by his parents, father Burress P. Hicks and mother Naomi A. Hicks; his wife, Betty P. Hicks; his son, David Ryan Hicks; his grandson, Dawson Cole Hicks; and his brother William P. Hicks. He is survived by his sons James Randall Hicks, Ronald Wayne Hicks (Tara), Daniel Rubin Hicks (Shannon), and Shane Rendell Hicks (Kristen); his grandchildren, Morgan, Colton, Travis, Sambo, Chase, JR (Shane), Landon, Avery, Abby, AJ and Carleigh; his great-grandchildren, Dawson and Naomi; his brothers, Larry Hicks (Thelma) and Walter Hicks; his sister Brenda Runge (Bob); numerous cousins, nephews, nieces, great-nephews, great-nieces, great-great-nephews, great-great-nieces, brothers-in-law, and sisters-in-law.

Come to celebrate and honor the purpose-driven life of James (Jimmy) Hicks on January 16, 2025 at Rosemont Baptist Church at 1061 27th Street, Niceville, Florida. Visitation will begin at 10:00am, services will begin at 11:00am, followed by him being laid to rest at Heritage Gardens Cemetery. Friends are invited back to Rosemont Baptist Church to a luncheon with the family.

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