A good man is often described as someone who strives for virtue, acts with integrity, and demonstrates kindness & compassion – Brainy Quote
Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one – Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor, Stoic philosopher
Dewitt Hicks was born in 1933 and passed in 2022. I did legal research for Mr. Hicks. I think I loved him because he was good, and he reminded me of my father. He was a gentleman, the kind that has a handkerchief in his pocket and opens the door for you. A fussy woman at the courthouse started a conversation concerning Mr. Hicks. I told her I loved and respected him. She replied, “You’re the only one.” Sometimes you don’t know what you don’t know. Momma always said, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything.” The hairdresser I knew was struggling. Her ex-husband was embezzling money from a trust fund intended for the grandchild. Mr. Hicks took the case, won the verdict, walked out with the hairdresser and her daughter and wished them well. It wasn’t the first time helping the helpless, and it wouldn’t be the last.
John Merritt Reese was born in 1924 and passed in 2022. He went by Jack and lived down the road with his family. He worked the Sessums Orchard. The family raised blueberries, persimmons, pears and muscadines. Jack sat outside at a table with his dog at his feet. It was a hot summer day. The dog got up and laid down under a tree. Jack looked over: “I’m not going to let that dog look smarter than me.” Jack picked up the table and moved under the tree. Sometime later I had a dog that died tragically. I was heartbroken. Jack came to the house to tell me the same situation had happened to him. He was caring, kind, funny, and thoughtful.
Two weeks ago, Syndicated columnist Sid Salter wrote a column on The Dispatch’s “Local Voices” about the Scouts honoring a legendary civic servant, singer and man of God. That would be John Robert Arnold, born in 1923 and passed away in 2017, another good man, a friend and a neighbor, who also lived down the road in the Sessums community. Mr. Salter picked up a quote I had written in a column about the good times with the Arnold family. The community had a monthly potluck at the old wooden school house. Christmas was a big deal for everyone. John Robert was Santa Claus, and all had to sit on his lap and tell Santa what they wanted for Christmas. Afterwards we sang Christmas songs then fixed up a float for the annual Christmas Parade with children and adults in homemade costumes and John Robert singing the Christmas carols over the microphone.
There’s not enough room to print all the good things these men did. They knew what it meant to be a good man. God bless them all and God bless you.
Shannon Bardwell is a writer living quietly in the Prairie. Email reaches her at [email protected].
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You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
