Talmadge Hickman

Talmadge Hickman, 94, of Corinth, MS passed away at his home on August 5, 2019, following a short illness. Funeral services will be at Magnolia Funeral Home of Corinth on Wednesday, August 7, at 2:00 PM. Visitation is set for Wednesday, August 7, 2019 from 12:00 PM till service time at 2:00 PM. Interment will be in the Burcham family cemetery. Mr. Hickman was born in Lee County, Mississippi, near Saltillo in 1925. His family moved to Corinth where he grew up and attended school. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II on the island of Okinawa. After the war, he became a bricklayer and later was a partner in Hickman Brothers Masonry Contractors. Building was his trade, and he did it well. Homes, schools, hospitals, businesses, and churches around the Midsouth remain as his legacy. Survivors include his wife of 72 years, Betty Burcham Hickman; daughters Violet Cole (William) and Phyllis Bonner (Earl) of Corinth; a son Steve Hickman (Bonnie) also of Corinth. His life was also blessed with three grandchildren: Matthew Cole of Seattle, WA; Andrew Bonner (Jessica) of Brookhaven, MS; Lydia Hickman Sanders (Ashton) of Fort Worth, TX; and one great-granddaughter Mary Helen Bonner. Besides his immediate family, he had numerous nieces and nephews that were part of his life. He was preceded in death by his parents Robert and Pearl Smith Hickman; three brothers Euless, Arthur, and Wayne Hickman; and four sisters Margaret Pearson, Beatrice Stanford, Viola Mears, and Mattie Sue Pearson. Eight nephews and two nieces also preceded him in death. Mr. Hickman led a simple, private life, reading his western novels and keeping himself informed on world events through newspapers and news journals. One of his special interests was aviation. He owned a private plane for several years and spent many happy hours flying around the Midsouth with his son-in-law William Cole. In his latter years, he shared his memories of WWII with family and friends, especially with his son-in-law Earl Bonner, who is also a Navy veteran. Mr. Hickman was privileged to be a 32nd degree York Rite Mason. Though his family will miss him so much, we know he is on “the other shore” with the Lord and those that love him. A hard life of toil and labor is over, and we can only say to him in eternity, “Sailor, rest your oars.”