Helen Hickman

Helen Virginia Skidmore Hickman, of the Jackson’s Mill community, was called home to be with her creator and her beloved husband on their anniversary, December 31, 2016. Helen lived a full and adventuresome 97 years- touching all she met with love, heart of service, and delightful and sassy personality. She was born on October 1, 1919 in Braxton County, WV. She was the daughter of Harper and Opal Skidmore and sister to Forrest Skidmore, Mabel Skidmore Kayser, and Mary Louise Skidmore Scroggins. Helen graduated from Weston High School in 1938 and on December 31, 1941, she married her high school sweetheart, Charles Randall Hickman and she began a life of devotion as a Navy wife and mother raising a family during war time and moving 23 times in his career across the United States and Japan and Bermuda. She is survived by her three children and their spouses: C. Randall Hickman (Cathy) of Bridgeport, Michael M. Hickman (Judy) of Tallahassee, Florida and Lora Hickman Rohrbough (Mark) of Bridgeport. Upon his retirement from the Navy, they began a civilian life in Lewis County living in Shadybrook, Freemansburg, and Jackson’s Mill before losing her beloved Charles in 1971. She worked as secretary for the Lewis County Board of Education for 21 years, retiring in 1989. She was an active member of the Broad Run Baptist Church of Jane Lew and was affectionately known by many nicknames throughout her life: Aunt Butch, Hard Helen, and HH, but the name she cherished the most was .being called “Nanny.” She is survived by ten grandchildren and their spouses: Jon Michael (Sarah) Hickman, Jarrod (Angie) Hickman, Jessica (Troy) Fason, Laurel (Adam) Beach, and Robin Hickman Jones all of Florida; CR (Tara) Rohrbough of Virginia, Angie (Scott) Fowler of Clarksburg and Josh (Gwen) Humble of Bridgeport, Lisa (Adam) Walters of Kentucky, and Elizabeth (Jason) Lones of North Carolina. Life’s blessings increased as her legacy continues with 19 great grandchildren: Paige, Avery, and Sophia Humble, Jonah and Kora Fowler, Brooks, Brady, Addie, and Delaney Hickman, Carter Rothell, Bella and Becca Beach, Haley and Lexi Walters, Deanna, Arwen, and River Fason, Ethan Jones, and Wilson Lones. She remained active in retirement with mission trips to Haiti, and excursions across the continental US, as well as trips to Australia, Hawaii, the Bahamas, and Alaska. She also took up knitting, crocheting, and basket making as well as deer hunting in her 80s, bagging two deer on hunting trips with her son, Randy. Helen was very proud of her family and her favorite activities throughout her life were whatever they were involved in, be it ballgames, NASCAR, theater, or dance recitals. Helen’s family is thankful to her close personal neighborhood friends who faithfully looked after her- Hazel, Mary Jane, Betty, and Joyce and especially grateful for her wonderful caregiver, Margie. Family and friends will be received at the Hardman-Paletti Funeral Home 730 N. Main Avenue Weston on Thursday, January 5, 2016 from 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Friday at 1:00 p.m. from the Hardman-Paletti Funeral Home chapel with Pastor Bill Coffindaffer, and Pastor Adam Beach officiating. Interment will follow services in the Machpelah Cemetery of Weston. On-line condolences and life stories in memory of Helen may be expressed at hardman-palettifuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, those who wish to honor the memory of Helen “Nanny” Hickman, may donate to the clinic fund of the Friends of Ft. Liberte Haitian Ministry, P.O. Box 905 Elkins, WV 26241 or the donate button at haitianfriends.com. Hardman-Paletti Funeral Home of Weston is honored and privileged to serve the family of Helen Virginia Skidmore Hickman.