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With deep love and gratitude for their mother, the children of Lee Spencer Hicks announce her passing on December 15, 2024, in Kingwood, Texas. At the age of 85, Lee went to be with the Lord and her late husband, Wade Hampton Hicks, III, and now that they are together, a joint memorial service to celebrate both lives will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, June 28, 2025 at the First Presbyterian Church of Hartsville, SC. Born and raised in Winter Haven, Florida, Lee was the daughter of Culver Otis Spencer, a prominent orange grove owner, and her gracious Southern mother, Mary Hopper Spencer. A graduate of Florida State University, Lee majored in education and was a proud member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority. Her devotion to Florida State football remained a lifelong passion, which rivaled only that of her husband, Wade, and his devotion to everything Clemson University. After college, Lee taught school in Atlanta, where she met and married Wade Hampton Hicks III, a civil engineer and surveyor. Their life together took them ultimately to Hartsville, South Carolina, where they raised their two children, Kimberly Lee Dixon and Wade Hampton Hicks IV, and operated the beloved family business, Hicks Garden & Gifts. In Hartsville, Lee became an integral part of the community. A faithful and active member of First Presbyterian Church, she served as a deacon, elder, Sunday School teacher, Vacation Bible School teacher, and chair of the cooking circle -- renowned for her high standards and warm meals prepared for those in need. Lee was a gracious hostess, an avid reader, and a member of numerous civic and social organizations, including the Civitan Club, Pine Lake Garden Club, Bridge Club, Investments Unlimited, and The Thursday Study Club, where she served as president and shared scholarly presentations, the last being on the Seminole Indian Tribe. Her devotion to Hartsville was evident in every effort, and her service was recognized when she was named one of the founding board members of the Byerly Foundation. Lee exemplified the best of Southern grace, hospitality, and kindness, always balancing dignity with a keen sense of humor and warmth. Lee’s memory is inseparable from that of her late husband, Wade Hampton Hicks III, who passed away before her. Together, they built a life of joy, community service, and deep love for their family and friends. Their cherished retreat in Hendersonville, North Carolina, offered a place of rest and fellowship for many. Wade and Lee loved their family and, in recent years, enjoyed being closer to children and grandchildren in Texas, where they were able to celebrate many holidays and milestones, including the birth of two great-grandchildren. They are survived by their daughter, Kimberly Dixon and husband Bailey; Wade Hicks IV and wife Nicole; grandchildren Lauren Prasatik (husband Justin), James Bailey Dixon, Rain Hicks, and Maya Hicks; and great grandchildren Connor and Kaylee Ann Prasatik. In lieu of flowers, please make memorials to the First Presbyterian Church of Hartsville, 213 W. Home Ave. Hartsville, SC 29550, or to the charity of your choice.

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Mrs. Lee Spencer Hicks

September 27, 1939 - December 15, 2024