On Tuesday, December 10, 2024, Larry Hicks won his battle with ALS and defeated death by passing through it. He ran his race well, faithfully persevering until the very end.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Marie; his three children, Amy, Nathan (Tanya), and Brian (Debra); ten grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. His family was his pride and joy, and he loved them well throughout his life. He was steady and consistent and made it a point to communicate his love to family members. His love of all things outdoors was evident to anyone who knew Larry, and he cherished time spent doing things like running, biking, camping, backpacking, sailing, etc., especially with friends and family.

Larry was a fixture in the Pensacola business community, beginning his accounting career in earnest at Hicks, Rowell, and Johnson and retiring many years and mergers later as a senior partner at Warren Averett. He was a consummate professional and took great joy in serving clients and mentoring younger professionals.

He was a longtime member of First Baptist Church, Pensacola, filling many different roles through the years. He taught Sunday School, served as a deacon, chaired various committees, and worked with disaster relief. He delighted in the people and work of the church and gave much of himself to that place.

Larry's faith was paramount for him, and his love of Jesus permeated every aspect of his life. It set a standard for living, connected him with others, and informed his approach to work and everything else. His relationship with Christ was honest, unwavering, and dynamic. In the last few years, when ALS tested his faith at the highest levels, he was unrelenting and committed to making the most of his suffering. "I just don't want my suffering to go to waste," he said. And by committing to live out that sentiment, his impact on others only increased even as his physical ability diminished.

Larry will be missed by many, but his impact remains.

To celebrate Larry's life and the legacy of faith and love, friends and family will gather for a visitation from 1:30pm until a Memorial Service begins at 3:30pm Monday, December 16, 2024, at First Baptist Church, Pensacola, 500 N Palafox St., with Dr. Dave Snyder officiating.

The family would like to thank the caregivers and medical professionals who provided much-needed support during Larry's battle with ALS and the staff of Vitas Hospice for making his final days peaceful. A special thank you to Don Winslett for his guidance and shepherding these last few years.

In lieu of flowers, please consider giving to one of the following organizations that were close to Larry's heart: Center for Clergy Care, 900 Garden Gate Cir., Pensacola, FL 32504, 850-474-0042; Gulf Coast Kid's House, 3401 N. 12th Ave., Pensacola, FL 32503 ( gulfcoastkidshouse.org/donate/ ); Higher Ground USA, PO Box 788, Rome, GA 30162 ( hgusa.org ); First Baptist Church, Memorial Mission Scholarship Fund, 500 N Palafox St., Pensacola, FL 32501; or to ALS Association, Donor Services, 1200 Wilson Blvd Ste. 600, Arlington, VA 22209 ( als.org ).