Wednesday’s Inspiring Woman. Mrs. Hattie Mina Reid Hicky. Portrait of a Southern Lady. And love that lasts a lifetime.
Colonel Dan McHenry Hicky and Hattie Mina on their 63rd Anniversary.
We moved to Madison about 12 years ago.
Upon hearing of our move to a small town, some Atlanta friends gave me looks like — “You’ll be an outsider” — like I shall march about town with a scarlet “O” on bib around my neck.
But that was far from the case. And one of the most wonderful women to me from the start was Mrs. Hicky.
She is a woman of grace, kindness and humor. And before he passed last year, she and her husband Colonel Hicky, were a fixture in town.
I loved to see them sitting at church together. Hattie Mina always dressed perfectly from her earrings to her shoes. Her beauty and grace made me want to know her — and her secret of always looking so fine at 11 a.m. on Sunday mornings.
Many thanks to Stratton and Mina, her son and daughter, for interviewing her for this e-chat.
Please tell us a bit about your personal life. Where you were born, raised, education?
I was born in Atlanta, Georgia on March 2nd, 1918 to Maud and Walker Reid, of Madison. I was an only child and grew up in Madison, where my father farmed and had a livery stable, selling mules and horses.
1918. Is she the cutest thing or what?
I did spend some time with my grand parents in Hephzibah, Georgia, near Richmond, when the livery stable in Madison burned.
1941. A lovely Southern lass about age 23. (If I did the math correctly.)
We moved back to Madison after my grandfather died and I attended junior high and high school in Madison. I attended Richmond Academy in Augusta for my first two years of college, and then transferred to Agnes Scott College where I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in education. Hepizbah, Georgia. What a great name. Had to look that up. It’s near Augusta with zip 30815 (in case you’re wondering.)
I taught high school 10th grade for one year in Thompson, Georgia and still receive letters from one of my students from those days. I then moved to Brunswick, Georgia and taught 6th grade for one year, just before I married.
With her parents. Maud and Walker Reid about 1941.
How did you meet your husband Colonel Hicky? When did you get married?
I met Laddie (what everyone in Madison called Dan Hicky) when he and his mother had just moved back to Madison. He was invited to attend my 3rd birthday party and was very shy. I remember my mother telling me to hold his hand, and introducing him around, so he would feel welcome. But, I didn’t seriously date him until we were in college. I dated Walker Newton all four years of high school.
Walker and Dan were roommates at the University of Georgia, beginning their sophomore year, so when I went to Athens I got to see them both. After college I actually dated three boys. When the war broke out one was stationed in England, one was wounded in Normandy, and Laddie was transferred to the Panama Canal Zone.
1935. A Bridge Dance Party. I have heard tell of the bridge dance parties..
During one of Laddie’s leaves he came to see me and my mother told me to wear my yellow sweater to meet him at the train. Laddie always said as soon as he saw me in that yellow sweater he decided to propose, which he proceeded to do!
All three of the boys I’d been dating had asked me to marry them by this time but I had decided on Laddie and when he proposed I had to write the other boys with the news. I guess texting the news was not option back then. Two broken hearts. Hope they never saw you in the yellow sweater; they may have never gotten over it.
April 1944.
We were married on April 27th, 1944, during another of Laddie’s leaves. My maid of honor was Mildred Owen Landry, a friend since the 3rd grade. I had been her maid of honor the year before and she and her husband remain close friends to this day. I remember Laddie’s leave was so short we didn’t have much of a honeymoon when he had to return.
Hattie Mina and Captain Dan Hicky. March 1945.
I’ll never forget the look on his face as we said goodbye at the train station. He put me on a train to head back to Madison, and as I left I saw him standing by the tracks looking at me with the saddest expression. He was about to go to Europe to fly close air support combat missions for Patton’s army. Obviously he survived the war and we were married 66 years at the time of Laddie’s death in 2010.
Tell us about your family.
Laddie and I had three children during Laddie’s 30 years in the Air Force. Laddie retired as a full Colonel.
The family in 1963.
Our first child was Mina Reid Hicky, now Mina Lujan. She has two girls and one of them has three boys, so I’m a great grandmother to three. Mina has come back to Madison, after the death of her husband, and now helps me at home (primary care giver).
Our second child was named after Laddie. He was Dan McHenry Hicky, Jr. He became an Air Force pilot and absolutely loved flying and everything to do with airplanes. He was killed in 1977 in an Air Force plane crash. His loss was very hard on Laddie and me.
Our baby, now 55 years old, is John Stratton Hicky. We’ve always called him Stratton. His is now retired from the Navy, the father of two girls, and living right next door to me. He is a “jack of all trades” and is my fix-it man.
Okay, Stratton has fix-it skills. Must keep his e-mail handy in case dishwasher acts up again as prone to do.
What are some of the special memories of your life together?
The family on the occasion of their 50th Anniversary.
The military life was very exciting, especially living in Japan in the late 1950’s, with exposure to such a different culture. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Japan and studied Japanese flower arrangement styles, started working as a “Gray Lady” hospital nursing aid, and even held “bride school” for Japanese girls who were going to marry U.S. service men. I enjoyed moving with Laddie to new assignments, but by the time he retired we had lived in over 20 different homes.
Christmas. 1957.
Later, after Laddie retired and we moved back to Madison (1972) I enjoyed starting and running a tour business called Regal Tours with Laddie. We loved showing off Madison and Laddie’s old family home together. It seemed very natural to wind up back here.
What were some things you loved to do for your husband?
Laddie was easy to please. He loved good music and good food. Laddie always made me feel like a queen and he used to joke that my initials (HMRH) actually stood for “Her Majesty’s Royal Highness.” He said I was a great military wife and an especially gracious host, always showing “southern hospitality” and grace. He said he was always very proud of me.
So that must have meant that the Colonel was in Her Majesty’s Secret Service.
What were the things you loved that he did for you?
Laddie wrote poetry, and often marked special occasions in our life with a special poem to or about me. He was very sentimental and let me know it.
Colonel Hicky was Madison’s Poet Laureate. Each week the Citizen held one of his poems.
March 2008.
What advice do you have for making love last a lifetime?
To make love last, take the time to pick the right one in the beginning and make a solid commitment to love, honor, and cherish that person in all the ups and downs.
Picking the right one is so true. You chose very wisely. With me, I just thank the Lord that I didn’t manage to mess things up..
Any other thoughts you’d like to add…
One of the best pieces of advice I can give regarding marriage is to make sure you have someone you love, something to do, and something to look forward to.
I think that is so very wise….
2010.
Make sure you have someone you love, something to do, and something to look forward to. Words to live by.
Dear Hattie Mina, thank you for sharing a small glimpse into your beautiful live with Laddie. A love that only grew stronger amidst great joys and sorrow.
God bless and thank you for always being so kind to me.
P.S. I do so miss speaking to the Colonel on his walks early in the morning. He was a great man — full of humor, valor and grace.
Hattie Mina in the 1920s. I <3 those boots.
The house on Dixie, 1920s. Stratton lives there with wife Bonnie and daughters Morgan and Dana today.
1919. She is the cutest thing...Makes me want another little girl. (Good grief. Did I really think that much less really type that?)
Many thanks again to Stratton and Mina for all your help.
