Johnnie E. Hickman, 78, of Toomsuba, Miss., died Thursday, Sept. 27, 2012, at Regency Hospital in Meridian, Miss.

He was born in Tennessee in 1934 and moved to Alabama at the age of 10. Mr. Hickman earned three degrees from Mississippi State University. He retired from the U.S. Navy after 20 years of service. He taught ROTC and science at Southeast Lauderdale High School in Mississippi for 31 years.

Mr. Hickman was a member of The Fleet Reserve, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Phi Theta Kappa and Sons of the American Revolution. He was also a member of several bluegrass organizations and was a Plank Owner of The U.S. Naval Museum in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Hickman is survived by his wife of 57 years, Betty Sparks Hickman of Toomsuba, Miss.; son Darrell Hickman; daughter Denise Hickmam-Garrett; son Chip Madison; grandson Logan Garrett; sisters Bernice Farris, Reba Alexander, Paulette Gann, Jackie Hollingsworth and Mary Kay Webster, all of Alabama; brothers Kenneth Hickman, Freddie Hickman and Roger Hickman, all of Alabama; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Floyd and Margaret Hickman; and his brother Donald Hickman.

Services for Mr. Hickman will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, Oct. 1, at Robert Barham Family Funeral Home, in Meridian, Miss., with the Rev. Davey Wilkinson officiating. Burial will be in Forest Lawn Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 30, at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Johnnie E. Hickman Science Scholarship Fund.

Family and friends may sign an online guest book at robertbarhamffh.com.