AR SR9

Roland A. Hicks, Jr. opened Hicks Funeral Home on March 9, 1934, in Hope, Arkansas, after attending Gupton-Jones School of Embalming in Nashville, Tennessee.

The funeral home was the first Black funeral home in Hope and initially operated in a strip mall alongside a doctor's office, typesetter, Black theater, and restaurant.

The business moved twice and has been located at 407 South Hazel Street in Hope for the last 50 years.

Mr. Hicks accepted meat, vegetables, fruit, and milk as down payments on burial insurance plans and traveled the state to embalming seminars, becoming recognized as the best embalmer in Arkansas at that time.

The Senate recognizes Mr. Hicks and the Hicks Funeral Home for 89 years of service to the Hope community, with the business now operating under the fourth generation of licensed funeral directors; a copy of the resolution will be provided to the Hicks family.