Silas Simmons Hicks
Published 11:40 am Monday, January 27, 2025
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March 22, 1949 – Jan. 24, 2025
NATCHEZ – Silas Simmons Hicks peacefully departed this earth for his heavenly home on Jan. 24, 2025, surrounded by family and friends, at the age of 75 years old.
A visitation will be held on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, at Laird Funeral Home from 5:30 until 7:30 p.m. A celebration of life will follow at a later date at Hawthorne hosted by dear friends Bettye Jenkins, Rusty Jenkins, and his wife, Lyn.
He was born in Natchez, on March 22, 1949, at The Natchez Sanitorium, to Harold Frassle Hicks and Jean Simmons Hicks. His namesake was after his grandfather, Silas M. Simmons, of Silas Simmons, LLP in Natchez.
Simmons attended Cathedral Catholic School in Natchez and graduated from Natchez-Adams County High School in 1967. He attended Ole Miss where he was a member of a Kappa Alpha Fraternity. He furthered his education at the University of Southern Mississippi, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 1976. After a brief time working at City Bank and Trust, he started his career as an insurance agent at his father’s company Burns Hicks Insurance. He was president of South West Mississippi Association of Insurance Agents from 1989 to 1990. He was a member of the Gulf Coast States Oil and Gas Tournament and a lifetime member of the Elks USA Fraternal Organization. He was also active in the Hunters for the Hungry and Natchez Santa Clause Committee for many years.
Simmons’ love for the outdoors was encouraged and taught by his grandfather, Silas Simmons. He was a member of Buck Island Hunting Club for 48 years, he also cherished hunting at Davis Island. His most cherished hobby was spending time with his Buck Island family. In his spare time, you could find him visiting with his Corner Bar friends and family.
Simmons was a loving husband, devoted father, and the best Pop to his grandchildren. He was a man that never met a stranger. If the richness of one’s life is measured in the number of friends one has, then he was one of the wealthiest. He was loved by everyone who knew him and one who truly enjoyed having a good time. His word was his bond, if he said it, you could count on it.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold Frassle Hicks and Jean Simmons Hicks.
Survivors include his wife of 29 years, Leslie Powers Hicks; brothers, Harold M. Hicks (Brenda) of Natchez, and Donald N. Hicks of Lake St. John, LA; sisters, Cloe Hicks Carbine (Geary) of New Orleans, LA, and Jean Louise Hicks Swain (Jeffrey) of Raleigh, NC; son, Silas Simmons Hicks II of Oxford, MS; daughter, Lauren Rocha (Chris) of Natchez; grandchildren, Mary Simmons Hicks of Oxford, MS, Austin Hoggatt of Natchez, Emma Grace Rocha of Grenada, MS, and Holly Kate Rocha of Natchez. Simmons was blessed with a large family including many loving cousins, nieces, and nephews.
The family would like to express gratitude to Natchez Family Medicine Jose “Hoss” Serio, Natchez Oncology Clinic, Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, and special nurse Hannah Jenkins at Merit Health Natchez for their love and care.
Memorials can be made in lieu of flowers to The Natchez Adams County Humane Society or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at lairdfh.com.