Jasper Wayne Hicks

J. Wayne Hicks, age 74, of Oxford, N.C. passed away peacefully on March 27, 2024, at his home surrounded by his loving family. He was the son of the late Haywood Arthur Hicks and Mittie Belle Daniel Hicks.

Wayne was born on August 20, 1949, in Granville County and was raised on the family farm in Oxford, N.C. He met his wife Peggy Matthews Hicks, also of Granville County, before high school but they did not start dating until after high school (Peggy’s father had a strict dating rule). After dating for a couple years, they were married and have been married for nearly 54 years.

Also, after high school Wayne began a career in the tobacco industry, which was heavily influenced by his experience working with his father and grandfather on the family tobacco farm. In 1970, he began working with Universal Leaf Tobacco Company where he retired in 2004 after 34 years of service. In his career with Universal Leaf he worked in Henderson, N.C. with J.P Taylor Company, Wilson,N.C. with Tobacco Processors, Inc. and ended his career in Nashville, N.C. with Universal Leaf North America. Wayne worked his way up through Universal Leaf and retired as Vice President and General Manager. Throughout his career he had the opportunity to mentor co-workers, influence others’ careers and build friendships, many of which were still very close when he passed. He and his family resided in Wilson for over 20 years during his career and returned to the family farm in Oxford shortly after his retirement.

After retirement Wayne enjoyed traveling with close friends from Wilson and Oxford, relaxing (which didn’t occur often), and spending time with family. He really enjoyed teaching his granddaughters (Hope and Hailey) how to fish in the farm ponds and working on projects around the farm with his son, Steve.

Wayne is survived by Peggy, his son Steven Wayne Hicks and wife Angela of Oxford, two granddaughters Hope Elizabeth Hicks and Hailey Ann Hicks. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Haywood Larry Hicks and sister-in-law Ann Cottrell Hicks

The family will have a visitation prior to the funeral service at Gentry, Newell & Vaughan Funeral Home, in Oxford, N.C., on March 30, 2024, at 1:00 pm . Funeral services will follow immediately at 2:30 pm at Gentry, Newell & Vaughan Funeral Home by Reverend Johnny Yount. Burial will be at Meadowview Memorial Park on Highway 15 N. in Oxford.

Special thanks are expressed to his caregivers, Marlene Woods and Sheila Blu.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made in honor of Wayne to the American Diabetes Association, the American Stroke Association, or the American Cancer Society.

The Hicks family is proudly being served by Gentry-Newell & Vaughan, 503 College Street, Oxford, NC 27565.