Cleo Hicks-Williams Day declared in Andrews for June 9

Cleo Hicks circa 1969, when nurses really dressed like nurses!

The Town of Andrews is planning a "Cleo Hicks-Williams Day" on June 9th at 1:00 p.m. in the Cultural Arts Center. It will be hosted by Chuck Van Gorder. All Cleo's friends, relatives and past work associates are cordially invited, as well as anyone who has read her book and would like to know more about her.

We want to honor our own, who has made us so proud that she's chosen to live and offer all her abilities and love to this community. There will be music, composed and arranged by Hicks, Mountain Music by local musicians, a poetry reading by Kandy Barnard, Cherokee County's Poet Laureate, and refreshments. You are invited to tell any funny or touching memories that you have made with Hicks or sit back and laugh or cry while others do.

Hicks put herself through nursing school and became Operating Room supervisor and director of Nursing at District Memorial Hospital in Andrews, where she touched many lives. Hicks is also an accomplished artist, carver, potter, musician (plays 13 different instruments with no formal training), and an author of a "best

Cleo Hicks circa 1992.

seller" in Western NC, called

Gratitude for Shoes: Growing Up Poor in the Smokies

Her book is written in "Mountainese", which all of us locals love. However, since her audience is now enhanced with a lot of new residents wanting to become locals who need a little help understanding, Hicks put in a dictionary in the back of the book just to help things along.

A scholarship fund in Hicks' name has been started and all donations to that fund, which are tax deductible, should be made out to Joanna Cornerstone Ministries or JCM with a note that it is for Hicks' scholarship. Any student from Andrews High School meeting the criteria can become a candidate. Hicks wants the students

not only to be worthy but have an

interest in music, nursing or journalism.

Hicks is a classmate of many of us and we're very proud to have known her and just want her to know how much she's loved and appreciated. See you all there on June 9th!