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Mr. Amp Frank Hicks, 66, of Costa Mesa, California, passed away at home on Thursday, August 12th, 2021. Frank was born October 21st, 1954, to the Reverend Eldie F. Hicks and Mary Dee R. Hicks in Waynesboro, Mississippi.
After graduating from Oxford High School in 1972, Frank attended the University of Mississippi where he graduated in 1976 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Forensic Science. He completed both an internship and training in the Questioned Document Section of the Georgia Crime Laboratory in Atlanta before returning to Mississippi to start the Questioned Documents Section in the Mississippi Forensic Laboratory in 1978. Frank remained in charge of the Mississippi Crime Laboratory Questioned Document Section until his retirement from public service in August of 2002, after which he relocated to Long Beach, California to work full-time as a private examiner at the firm of Rile & Hicks.
Frank was a Diplomate of the American Board of Forensic Document Examiners (ABFDE) and served as its President from 2000-2001 and for several terms on the Board. He was a member of the American Society of Questioned Document Examiners (ASQDE), and a Fellow in the Questioned Document Section of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS). He was also a Charter Member and past President of both the Southeastern Association of Forensic Document Examiners (SAFDE) and the Mississippi Division of the International Association for Identification (IAI).
Frank gave generously of his time and expertise to the profession of Forensic Document Examination, and produced numerous presentations, workshops, and publications throughout his career. He testified as an expert witness hundreds of times in both civil and criminal cases in local, state, and federal courts and was highly regarded amongst his colleagues.
Frank was deeply devoted to both his family and his Christian faith. Frank served as an active deacon and chairman of deacons after his ordination on January 25, 1981. At the time of his death, he was a member of Liberty Baptist Church in Newport Beach, CA. A consummate mentor, he committed himself to lifelong Christian education as a Sunday School teacher where he would regularly dedicate countless hours in preparation for his classes.
Mr. Hicks is preceded in death by his father, the Reverend Eldie F. Hicks; mother, Mary Dee R. Hicks; brother, David Lyn Hicks; paternal grandparents, Amp Frank and Letha Hicks; and maternal grandparents, Gus and Bess John Rose.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 45 years, Pamela H. Hicks, Costa Mesa, CA; sons, George R. Hicks (Shannon), Pooler, GA, Jerry H. Hicks (Jennipher), Indianapolis, IN, Micah J. Hicks, Huntington Beach, CA; sister, Johnny H. Ransdell (Jerry), Katy, TX; grandchildren, Izzy Smith, Indianapolis, IN, Gillian Hicks, Pooler, GA, Jordyn Hicks, Pooler, GA; nephews, Russell Henderson (Chrissy), Millry, AL, Clark Henderson (Jennifer), Niceville, FL, Grant Hicks, Matthew Hicks; nieces Christal Nguyen (Tony), Pensacola, FL, Amy Rheman (Joel), Katy, TX; and great nephews and nieces, Garrett Henderson, Hannah Henderson, Dalten Henderson, Sydney Nguyen, Noah Nguyen, Sophie Henderson, Wyatt Henderson, Olivia Henderson, Jackson Rheman, and Hailey Rheman.
Visitation for Mr. Hicks will be held from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM, Tuesday, October 12, 2021, at Freeman Funeral Home in Waynesboro, MS, followed by the Funeral Service at 2:00 PM officiated by Dr. Steve Smith. Interment will be in Waynesboro Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Russell Henderson, Clark Henderson, Dalten Henderson, Tony Nguyen, Ron Smith, and Rigo Vargas. Honorary pallbearer is Garrett Henderson.
Sue Note: Amp’s father was a minister at First Baptist Church in Magee. Amp attended Magee Elementary.)
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