Edward Allen Hickman

Edward (Eddie) Allen Hickman lifelong educator died on March 31, 2026 at Maury Regional Hospital. He was born at King’s Daughter’s Hospital in Columbia in 1950. He grew up on Dimple Court with his parents, Athel and Evelyn (Carpenter) Hickman and his sisters, Donna and Paula. His education began at Highland Park Elementary and continued at Whitthorne Junior High School. While he was a student at Columbia Central High School, he excelled on the basketball and baseball teams and he graduated in 1969. His lifelong goal was to return to Central to teach and coach.

Eddie attended Columbia State Community College and graduated from David Lipscomb University in 1973. He began his career with the Maury County School System in 1973 at Hampshire Unit School. In 1976, he transferred to Mt. Pleasant High School.

He went to teach at Whitthorne Junior High School in 1985. When the ninth grade moved to Central in 1988, he met his lifelong goal to teach and coach at his alma mater. Eddie received his Master’s of Education from Trevecca in 1992. He became Assistant Principal at Central in 1993, and four years later he became Principal.

In 2004, Eddie left Central to become Maury County’s Director of Schools. He retired in 2015 ending his forty-two years of service to the students of Maury County. During his retirement, he continued to serve the community with his involvement in the Columbia Breakfast Rotary Club, the Tennessee School Resource Officer Board, COGINA-Advanced Ed, Maury County Retired Teachers Association, EA Auctioneering Team and Beech Grove Church of Christ.

His greatest joy in retirement was running his beloved family farm Mockingbird Hill with his wife, daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter. Many hours were spent farming, riding horses, and with his family.

Eddie received many honors throughout his career included the Tennessee Colonel Aide de Camp from Governor Lee, National High School Coaching Award, WOW Outstanding Citizen, A.F. Bridges TSSAA School System Administrator of the Year Award, Superintendent of the Year for the South-Central Region, Paul Harris Fellow, TSSAA Administrator of the Year Award, and the National Association of School Resource Officers Award. His basketball teams made appearances at the TSSAA State Basketball substate and state tournaments.

Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, April 4, 2026 at 10:00 AM at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home. A private family burial will follow. The family will visit with friends at the Central High School Event Center on Friday, April 3, 2025 from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Beech Grove Church of Christ, the Columbia Central High School Academic Boosters, or to any Maury County Public School.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Sheila Hutcherson Hickman; daughter, Sarah Elizabeth (Sean) Hickman-McLeod; granddaughter, Ellie Grace Hickman-McLeod; his schnauzers, Andy Dog and Sally Anne and his horse, Red. Sisters, Donna (Tommy) Briggs and Paula (Glenn) Brewer and their families. Several nieces and nephews. Special nephew Bert (Lori) Hutcherson and niece, Haley (Derrick) Carroll.

Pallbearers Tommy Wolaver, Richard Callahan, Kyle Cheek, Nathan Johns, Wilbur Davis, Scott Gaines, Eddie Ables, and Rory Ghant. Honorary Pallbearers: Coach Kenneth Head, Tony Sowell, Darrell Alishie, Eddie Allred, Mike Ford, Ken McKee, Karen St.Clair, Cindy Johnson, Betty Booker Parks, Kevin Eady, Dickey Thompson, Kevin Springer, Veneeda Jernigan, Shirley Johnson, Enoch George, Glenn Voss, Bobby Anderson, Jimmy Dugger, the CHS Class of 1969, former faculty and staff of Central High School, the Maury County School Board staff during his tenure, and the Columbia Breakfast Rotary Club.

The family would like to express a special heartfelt thank you to Dr. Meghan Sills, Dr. Ben Gardener and Maury Regional Hospital