The Life Celebration of Lamar Claude Hicks Jr. was conducted on Friday, November 14, 2025, at Brown-Holley Funeral Home in Rayville with his wife, Dellie Hicks, Methodist minister and pastor of Holly Ridge UMC, officiating.
Claude at age 71 went home to be in the presence of the Almighty on Saturday, November 9th, with plans to sit at the feet of the Christ. He slipped from this life at home with his family gathered around him, after a long term of illness.
Raised in Richland Parish, Claude was born July 11, 1954, in Winnsboro, to parents Lamar Claude and Vera Chisholm Hicks and grandparents Kittrell and Evie R. Hicks and Howard and Belle Bowman Chisholm, all of whom preceded him in death.
Claude, an only child, married Dellie Kay Bardwell, one of 13 children, on June 1, 1975 in Clarksdale, Miss., and he became an instant uncle. To that union, a daughter, Catherine Marguerite Hicks, was born in 1977. Nine years later in 1986, along came a son to whom was given the name Dennis Wayne Hicks.
Later the couple would be blessed with beautiful grandchildren: Justin Blake Cowart, Austin Craig Cowart, Dustin David Cowart, Olivia Gilmore, Avalyn Rose Hicks and Elijah Wayne-Allen Hicks. Even later three great-grandchildren were added to the family.
Through their 50 years together, Claude and Dellie accumulated numerous god-children, among them Michelle Chisholm Young, Melissa Woodard, Larry Doughie and Ralph Sanders, and many grandchildren through the god-children, all of whom called him Poppy. He had a countless number of loved ones who called him Uncle Claude.
A strong, devoted man of faith, Claude was given a beautiful send-off as friends and family were given the chance to tell how he had affected their lives. The lives of thousands of people were affected by the many projects and ministries he worked tirelessly on alongside Dellie through the years.
Claude’s legacy of love and service will live on through those he touched and loved.
The Scripture reading was taken from the fourth and fifth chapters of II Corinthians. Words to an old Statler Brothers song, “I Did Make A Difference” were shared and the song “Thank You For Giving To The Lord” was sung by Claude’s younger cousin, Michael Chisholm, and dedicated to his memory.
His family would like to thank all those who ministered to them during the last 12 weeks of Claude’s life. Special thanks to Dr. Kyle Bruyninckx and staff, Dr. Michael Hand, Dr. Richard O’Donovan, Dr. David Dies, and Dr. Robert Lee who gave such wonderful medical care, and Nicole, Stormie, Amy, Melody and the Compassus nursing staff who so lovingly cared for him near and at the end.
