Tommy Earl Hicks, son of Rev. Tommy R. and Margaret R. Hicks, Independence passed away Sunday, November 9 at Ochsner Medical Center, New Orleans He was born April 7, 1973 and died November 9, 2008. He was 35, a native of Covington and a resident of New Orleans. Tomy's great love for cooking and working for some of the top restaurants in New Orleans and surrounding areas. He worked for NOLA, a restaurant owned by Emeril Lagasse. He was also an avid artist, painting abstracts of New Orleans. Tommy loved fishing and his faithful companion, Floyd, his birddog.

Visitation was at McKneely and Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite, religious services were at the funeral home chapel, conducted by Dr. Stephen P. Hicks, Bro. Chris Chavers. Interment was in Bankston Cemetery, Hwy. 43, Albany.

He is survived by his parents, Rev. Tommy and R. and Margaret Lois Hicks, Independence; a sister, Lindy Hicks Cleere and husband, Robert, Baton Rouge; a son, Aiden Cole Hicks, Metairie, and Aiden's mother, Melo Matus; two nieces, Alora and Averi Cleere; a nephew, Caleb Cleere; maternal grandmothers, Margaret Bryant, Covington and Frances Glass, Madisonville; numerous extended family members.

He was preceded by his paternal grandparents, Robert and Henrietta Hicks; maternal grandparents, Sidney Glass and Ernest Bryant.

An on-line Guestbook is available at www.mckneelyfvaughnh.com. McKneely and Vaughn Funeral Home, Amite is located at I-55 N and Hwy. 16 W next to Coggins Gentry Ford.