Mrs. Grace Brown Hicks, of Fayetteville, died peacefully on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2006, with her family at her bedside. She had celebrated her 63rd wedding anniversary in August of this year and was 84 years old at her death. An excellent teacher and a fine musician, Grace Hicks was the founding teacher of the kindergarten at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, where she also directed the children's choir. Subsequently, she became one of the first kindergarten teachers in North Carolina's public schools; she taught at Theresa Berrien Elementary School until her retirement in 1990. Her grandchildren were the great joy of her retirement years. Mrs. Hicks is survived by her husband, Mason Spiller Hicks of Fayetteville; daughters, Jan Engel Hicks of Rocky Mount and Baylor Hicks of San Francisco; son, Daniel Mason Hicks of Fayetteville; granddaughter, Mary Grace Hicks of Greensboro; grandson, Jacob Mason Hicks of Lillington; brothers, Jerome Brown of Buckhannon, W.Va., and Kenneth Brown of Clarksville, Ga; and sister, Judy O'Donnell of Buckhannon, W.Va. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Nature Conservancy North Carolina, 4705 University Drive, No. 3290, Durham NC 27707. A memorial service will be held in the chapel of Highland Presbyterian Church on Thursday, Dec. 21, 2006 at 10 am with Dr. Ernie Johnson officiating. A second memorial service and interment will take place in Buckhannon, W.Va. at a later date.