LINCOLNTON, GA. - Bishop Cullen L. Hicks, 85, went to his heavenly home on Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at Lake Crossing Health Care in Appling, GA. The funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Friday, January 11, 2013 at Martin's Crossroads Congregational Holiness Church with Dr. Herbert Carter, Bishop Ronald Wilson and Rev. James James officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be grandsons and nephews. Rev. Hicks was the son of the late James Walter Hicks and the late Hassie Screws Hicks of Emanuel County, GA. He began preaching in August 1944 and received ordination on October 6, 1950. Rev. Hicks was elected pastor of Martin's Crossroads Congregational Holiness Church in 1958 and served three different tenures as pastor totaling twenty years. He was also elected to pastor at Augusta Congregational Holiness Church (Cornerstone), Flowing Wells Congregational Holiness Church in Augusta and Pentecost Chapel Congregational Holiness Church in Lexington, GA. Rev. Hicks served as District Youth Director of the Carolina Conference of the Congregational Holiness Church, District Secretary/Treasurer of the Carolina Conference of the Congregational Holiness Church and 2nd Assistant District Superintendent of the West Carolina District. Rev. Hicks was the youngest and the only one to be elected to two terms as General Superintendent from 1973-1977 and 1985-1991. He was the only person to ever be returned to the office after having once left. Rev. Hicks served as General Secretary/Treasurer, Superintendent of Home Missions And Evangelism, General Foreign Mission Board member, Publishing House Manager and Gospel Messenger Editor from 1991-2005. Bishop Hicks is survived by his beloved wife of 67 years, Margie Boyd Hicks; two children, Rev. Wayne Hicks and wife, Cherryl of Gainesville, GA. and Julianne Hicks Belangia and husband, Addison of Lincolnton; eight grandchildren, Susan Elizabeth Hicks McQueen, Daren Wayne Hicks, John Michael Hicks, Alyssa Calloway, Ansley Belangia, Andrea Belangia, Anna Belangia and Ashton Belangia; eight great grandchildren, Austin Tyler Hicks, Brittany Nicole Hicks, Logan Philip McQueen, Tiffany Brook Hicks, Lauren McKenzie Hicks, Noah Solomon McQueen, Addilyn Belle Calloway and Penelope Sexton. Bishop Hicks was also preceded in death by four brothers, Luther, Henry, Frank and Bunny Hicks; and two sisters, Irene Kirkland and Thelma Mullis. If so desired memorial contributions may be made to the Congregational Holiness Church, Inc., 3888 Fayetteville Hwy., Griffin, GA. 30223. Friends may call at the residence of Addison and Julianne Belangia at 1477 Leathersville Rd., Lincolnton, GA. You may sign the family's online guestbook at: www.rees-funeralhome.com. Visitation will be from 7 until 9 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday at Martin's Crossroads Congregational Holiness Church. Rees Funeral Home, 195 Peachtree St., Lincolnton, GA. 706-359-3222 is in charge of arrangements.