John L. Hickman

HAINES CITY, FLORIDA - John L. Hickman, age 86, of Haines City, passed away on May 20, 2017 of natural causes. John was born in Tampa on August 6, 1930 to John Franklin Hickman and Rebecca Virginia Hickman. He attended college at the University of Florida and University of Tennessee. He married Alice Elizabeth Hickman in Miami in 1950. They lived in Virginia, North Carolina, Texas, Kansas and Washington state before returning to Florida in 1980. John made his career in the newspaper business and retired from the Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel in 1994. He moved to the Haines City area soon thereafter. He was a member of First United Methodist Church of Haines City. John is predeceased by his wife, Alice Elizabeth Hickman and he is survived by his sons, John Hickman, Jr., of San Clemente, California; James Hickman of Auburndale, Florida; Bill Hickman of Ft. Meade, Florida and daughter Susan Allen of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He also has seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend to all and will be greatly missed. Visitation will be on Friday, May 26, 2017 from 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. at Oak Ridge Funeral Care, Haines City. Services will follow at 2:00 p.m., at the funeral home. Final resting place will be at Forest Hill Cemetery in Haines City. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to Good Shepherd Hospice, 105 Arneson Avenue, Auburndale, Florida 33823.