Marjorie Hammond Hickman

Marjorie Hammond Hickman, 89, of Asheville died peacefully on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, after several years in Skilled Care at Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Center.

Marjorie was born on February 18, 1936, in Carson City, Michigan, to John Tedford Hammond and Ruth Lyon Hammond. She grew up with her parents and brothers John and Jim in Benton Harbor, Michigan.

Marjorie graduated from the University of Michigan in 1959 with a BA Ed. degree in Early Childhood Development. She and John Bibb Hickman, an engineering student, met in college after they were paired alphabetically at a dinner party. They were both members of the Gilbert and Sullivan Society and enjoyed singing together in choruses. Marjorie also played violin in the university orchestra. After graduating, she and John moved to New York, where Marjorie enrolled in the Masters in Psychology program at Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey, and John started his chemical engineering career in Manhattan.

In 1967, she moved with her husband and children to Birmingham, Michigan, when John joined his father’s manufacturing business there. Marjorie volunteered for several church activities and volunteered at a local mental hospital. In 1975, she again relocated with her husband and children when John moved the family business, the W.P. Hickman Company, to Asheville, NC. She joined the Blue Ridge Mental Health Center as a child and family therapist and eventually became a Certified Social Worker.

In her work at Blue Ridge, she compiled a remarkable record of successes dealing with exceptionally vulnerable children. After more than 20 years working there and as a private therapist, Marjorie retired and enjoyed traveling with her husband. One of their joys was cruising aboard their family cruising tugboat, Water Music, on the Atlantic Intercoastal Waterway.

Marjorie was incredibly patient, compassionate, always even-tempered, very intelligent, and had a witty sense of humor. She was particularly fond of children and animals. She volunteered in the Neonatal ICU at Mission Hospital and often adopted shelter pets. Throughout the years, Marjorie and John worshipped and sang in the choir at First Presbyterian Church, Warren Wilson Presbyterian Church, and later at All Souls Episcopal Cathedral. An avid reader, it was hard to keep her supplied with library books. She would frequently read a book a day.

Marjorie is survived by her three children, five grandchildren, and one great grandson: Anne (Jeff) Imes and their daughters Emily and Allison; John (Mary) Hickman Jr.; and Elizabeth “Lissa” (Brian) Fuller and their children Gwenyth (Zach) Blackburn and their son Clark, Aynsley (Connor) Rademaker, and Tristan Fuller.

The family is deeply grateful to the staff and caretakers at Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community, especially those in Skilled Care who cared for Marjorie for more than eight years, and to Four Seasons Hospice who provided additional support and comfort at Deerfield toward the end.

A service will be held on Saturday, November 29, in Grace Chapel on the Skilled Care floor at Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community. The time of the service will be shared on this site once it’s finalized.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the All Souls Counseling Center (online at allsoulscounseling.org or by mail to 35 Arlington Street, Asheville NC 28801) or to ABCCM’s Transformation Village (online at abccm.org or by mail to 1845 Brevard Road, Arden NC 28704, please specify Transformation Village).

Groce Funeral Home’s Lake Julian team is assisting the family.