Gail Joyce Sutherland Hicks' Obituary
Gail Joyce Sutherland Hicks, age 89, of Statesville NC, passed peacefully on 25 April 2026, in her home from natural causes.
Gail was born in Mt Clemens, Michigan and earned her Bachelor’s Degree in English from Alma College. She spent most of her life teaching at various public schools in Michigan and New Jersey or through nurturing knowledge, learning and growth of her children and grand children.
She was widowed in 2010 after 49 years of marriage to John Hicks and moved from Michigan to settle in North Carolina.
She was a tried and true Anglophile, known for her numerous cross-stitch creations along with being a shopaholic and having a love of crosswords, big band music, reading and baking. She is responsible for handing down many family traditions such as Christmas pajamas, monkey bread and our enjoyment of a good book!
Gail is survived by her two children John Hicks (Julia) of Eden Prairie, MN and Kisten Hunter (West) of Mooresville, NC and grandchildren Liam, Aidan, Shania, West and Neva and a great grandchild Oliver.
She was preceded in death by her two younger brothers Douglas and Greg.
A private family celebration of life respecting her last wishes will take place in the near future.
Online condolences may be made at https://www.jamesfuneralhomelkn.com and memorial contributions can be made to the Public Broadcasting Foundation (https://foundations.pbs.org).
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