Louella Cunningham Hicks Adams

 

Louella Cunningham Hicks Adams, age 84 of Malvern, died Friday night in the Arkansas Heart Hospital in Little Rock.  She was born in the Big Creek Community near Malvern on December 31, 1923 to the late Gordon and Louisa Staggs Cunningham. Both sides of her family were pioneers in Hot Spring County, some settling here prior to Arkansas’ statehood. Reared and educated in Malvern, she retired after 55 years as a retail clerk, having worked at West Department Store and Walmart.  Lou was a member of the Emmanuel Baptist Church.  She loved to have garage sales, as her friends and family well know.  In her healthier years, she was an avid gardener and enjoyed crocheting and sewing.  Lou was the widow of the late Lawrence Hicks, Sr, to whom she was married on February 25, 1939, and who preceded her in death on October 10, 1980.  She married Nathan Adams on August 10, 1981.  He preceded her in death on September 14, 2004.

 

She is survived by two sons, Joe Hicks and his wife, Sandra of Malvern, and Larry Hicks of North Little Rock; by a step-daughter, Alma Walker of Malvern; by a brother, Glenn Cunningham of Apple Valley, California; by a sister, Lola Kidd of Malvern; by seven grandchildren, Michelle Carnahan, Rachel Inmon, Lawrence (Tripp) Hicks, III, Krista Sebourn, Jace Helms, Joseph Hicks, Jr., Diane Austin; by three step-grandchildren; by six great-grandchildren, and by three great-great-grandchildren. 

 

Lou was also preceded in death by two daughters, Belva Jean Hicks and Sarah Helms, two brothers, John Cunningham and William “Dick” Cunningham, and by three sisters, Ruby Lee Bankson, Gladys Schakel, and Opal Ragland. 

 

Her funeral will be held at ten o’clock Saturday morning, December 27, 2008 in the sanctuary of Emmanuel Baptist Church with Brother John Owen officiating.  Interment will follow in Big Creek Cemetery. 

 

Pallbearers will be: Danny Dunlap, Steve Austin, Larry and Jace Helms, Larry Otwell, Joseph Hicks, Jr. and Vaughn McCray. 

 

The family will receive friends at J. A. Funk Funeral Home on Friday afternoon from four until six o’clock. 

 

Memorials are requested to the Big Creek Cemetery Association, c/o Polly Kizer, 412 Big Creek Road, Malvern, Arkansas 72104 

 

Online condolesnces may be sent via jafunkfuneralhome.com.