Rebekah Hickman

Our dear Mom/Grandmama, Rebekah Elizabeth "Becky" Hickman, 94, originally of Dunbar, passed away in her sleep on December 31, 2012, at Shippensburg, Pa., Healthcare Center. She would have been 95 years old on January 19. Her genuine interest in people and engaging smile were constants in her life, inspiring, supporting, encouraging and healing everyone she met.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Roy L. Hickman Sr.; father and mother, Fred Bernard Richardson I and Florence Blizzard Richardson; brother, Fred Bernard Richardson II; grandson, Justin Marshall Hickman; special aunt, Ercie Abbot; and special cousin, Becky Francis Whetherholt.

She is survived by her children, Roy L. Hickman Jr. (Karen) of Evans, Ga., Lucinda H. Elliott of Shippensburg, Pa., and Samuel A. Hickman (Betsy Kent) of Charleston; grandchildren, Jennifer Walden (Mark) of Berea, Ky., Matthew Elliott (April) of Lexington, Ky., Rebekah Lynn Hickman of Evans, Ga., Andrew "Drew" Elliott (Lindsay Windland) of Berea, Ky., Benjamin Hickman of Niles, Ohio, and Levi Kent-Hickman (Kelly) of Richardson, Texas; great-grandchildren, Mia Kent-Hickman, Talmadge Walden, Raleigh Walden, Ryan Hickman, Alexis "Lexi" Elliott, Dawn Hickman, Audrey Elliott and Elliott "Eli" Windland; special nieces and nephews, Lisabeth Caudill (Joe) of Julian, Fred Richardson of Dunbar, Charles David Richardson (Margaret) of Point Pleasant and Sally Rutledge of Dunbar; and grandnieces and nephews, Debbie Rutledge, Teresa Smith, Becky Turley, Joseph Caudill II, Nancy Caudill Ortiz, Phillip Caudill, Sandy Black, Karen Jo Cantwell, Stephen Richardson and Josh Rutledge.

After her graduation from Charleston High School in 1935, Becky earned her bachelor of arts in education at Morris Harvey College (now University of Charleston) and post graduate courses in social work. Her passion and special gifts for addressing the needs of children and adolescents began with her career as an elementary school teacher at West Dunbar Elementary School. She subsequently served as a Kanawha County juvenile probation officer under Judge Elizabeth Hallanan. Later she established the first mental health aftercare outreach program for the West Virginia Department of Mental Health under Dr. Mildred Bateman.

A talented artist and gifted crafter, she served for 20 years as director of the arts and crafts therapy department at Highland Psychiatric Hospital. Following her "retirement," she founded the first West Virginia Parents Anonymous self-help groups for challenged parents. Never one to slow down, at the age of 69 she expanded her interest in promoting every person's self-improvement by becoming the certified instructor and West Virginia director of basic and advanced courses for the international Silva Method of Mind Development with co-lecturers Lisabeth Caudill, Janie Holmes and Margaret Lowen. At this time she became an avid ocean cruise aficionado, sailing to locations from Alaska to Greece, giving Silva lectures along the way, enjoying many side excursions with her grandchildren and other Silva friends such as Fannie Elmore, Nelda Sheets, George DeSau and Victor Kovens. It is comforting to know that in one of her last conversations Becky said, "I'm getting better and better!"

A celebration of her life will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, January 5, at Dunbar United Methodist Church, 1401 Myers Ave., Dunbar. Please note that there has been a change of the service location from the previous publication.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, January 4, at Keller Funeral Home, 1236 Myers Ave., Dunbar, and one hour prior to the service Saturday at Dunbar United Methodist Church.

In lieu of flowers, donations to Team for West Virginia Children, Inc. and designated to the Circle of Parents support group program, made online at TeamWV.org or mailed to P.O. Box 1653, Huntington, WV 25717, or to the Episcopal Home, 206 E. Burd St., Shippensburg, PA 17257, are appreciated.

Arrangements are in the care of Keller Funeral Home, Dunbar.