WILMINGTON — Mildred “Tootsie” Roberson Hickman, 86, died Monday, May 15, 2017, at Timberline Nursing facility on the Davis Health Care Campus in Porter’s Neck.
Mildred was born in Brunswick County on Sept. 7, 1930, to Bruce A. and Myrtis Roach Roberson. She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 38 years, George Caswell Hickman; brothers, Graham and Bill Roberson; and sister, Mary Alta Roberson Rich.
Mildred was a devoted and strong military wife who managed to raise six children in many parts of the country that were far from her beloved southeastern North Carolina while the U.S. Coast Guard kept her husband at sea for regular deployments. She embraced the life of a military wife as a great adventure making lifelong friends wherever the military sent her family.
She found joy wherever she traveled and valued life’s simple pleasures — her family, her friends, bright colors, purring yellow cats curled in front of her hearth and babies. Whether her children, her grandchildren, her great-grandchildren, or the babies in the daycare she operated for years, Mildred loved spending time with and cuddling babies.
She was a devoted member of Winter Park Baptist Church for more than 50 years, where she attended Sunday school and worship services, kept the nursery, and volunteered with Interfaith Hospitality. Mildred and George also served the community by working with the Winter Park Optimist Club and the New Hanover High School Booster Club. In later years, Mildred also served at the Seaman’s Center at the Wilmington Port.
Mildred is survived by her six children, Durene Zingelmann (Chris), Bruce Hickman (Sherry), Bill Hickman (Tommie Jean), Mary Beth Strickland (Ron), Towana Moore (Mack) and Eric Hickman (Donna); eight grandchildren, Jessica Zingelmann Brown (Daniel), Kurt Zingelmann (Kelly), George and Frank Hickman, Kristen Hickman Petty (Amanda), Brooke and Jeanie Hickman and Kaitlin Strickland (Joel); and great-grandchildren, Trent Dillon, Noah and Olivia Brown and Leo and Isla Zingelmann.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, May 17, at the Coble Ward Smith Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, May 18, at Coble Ward Smith Funeral Service, 3915 Oleander Drive, Wilmington, NC 28403. Graveside services will follow in the National Cemetery, 2011 Market St., Wilmington.
The family is very appreciative of the love and care given to Mildred by her caregivers at the Davis Community and Lower Cape Fear Hospice.
Memorials may be made to Lower Cape Fear Hospice, 1414 Physician’s Drive, Wilmington, NC 28401.
Share condolences with the family at coblewardsmithfh.com.
