Dr. Walter Lynn Hicks, Jr.

Walter Lynn Hicks, Jr., age 75, passed away peacefully of natural causes in his sleep at home on August 6, 2024, in St. Simons Island, Georgia.

Lynn, as he was known by friends and family, was born on August 11, 1948, in Augusta, Georgia, the son of Dr. Walter Lynn Hicks, Sr. and Beverly Burgess Meadors.  He grew up in Macon, Georgia where he graduated from Stratford Academy, and then attended Auburn University, graduating in three years!  He went on to Emory University School of Medicine and performed his residency at Louisville Kentucky General Hospital, specializing in internal medicine.

He moved to St. Simons Island, Georgia in 1978 to begin his career in Internal Medicine at Memorial Hospital in Brunswick, Georgia.  Later, with two other doctors (Robert Miller and Jesse Hunt), he started Glynn Immediate Care (an emergency clinic) in Brunswick near the causeway to St. Simons Island, where he lived.  He practiced medicine for 40 years, retiring in 2018; however, he kept his license and routinely pursued additional training in expeditionary and backcountry medicine.

Dr. Hicks (Lynn) had many interests, but was often heard saying, “I’m a doctor to support my ski habit.”  He pursued powdery slopes around the globe, but spent most winters skiing in the American and Canadian Rockies.  When he first moved to the coast, he acquired a 39-foot sailboat named “Munchkin”, and he spent many days at the Golden Isles Marina tinkering on his beloved sailboat.  Recently, he helped crew a sailboat in the North Atlantic from Iceland to the Black Sea (Scotland).

When it came to travel, Lynn maintained an intellectual curiosity of other cultures and the natural world that few men have throughout their lives.  From skiing the deepest powder on the steepest slopes to hiking the trails of the Great Smoky Mountains to trekking the Atacama Desert in northern Chile to sailing the world over, Lynn had a fearless pursuit of adventure.  Before he died, he was already planning his next adventure, a trip to New Zealand.

In addition to skiing, sailing and adventurous travel (he was a member of the Explorer Club of NY), Lynn was an avid reader, an accomplished photographer, a lifelong learner and a de facto historian.  He soaked up knowledge.  He loved to drive fast (usually on the racetrack…) and always drove a sportscar of German engineering.  While he hated to cook, he always made the rice (Minute Rice) and the black-eyed peas (frozen) for New Year’s Day.

Lynn was the quintessential country doctor – always willing to offer medical advice and care to family, friends and neighbors.  His concern for his patients was evident, and he had a powerful connection to his community’s first responders – the men and women in law enforcement, paramedics and fire departments of Glynn County.  He created The Dr. Lynn Hicks Foundation to support those causes that mattered so much to him – first responders and the military and their families, including in particular the importance of higher education for new generations of those families.  He cared deeply about what made this country great.

He was a loving and devoted son, brother and uncle.  He was preceded in death by his father Dr. Walter Lynn Hicks, Sr; his sister Debra Beverly Hicks; his step-father Mortimer F. Meadors; and his step sister-in-law Angela Mankin Meadors.

He is survived by his mother Beverly Burgess Meadors; his sister Mary Tamsen Hicks DeLong (Dennis); his nephew David Shoffitt; and his three step-brothers and their families.  He is also survived by his long-time friend and companion Melanie Gregory of St. Simons Island; and her two children Kimberly Bunn (Jason) and Jut Wynne.

A  memorial service will be held on his 76th birthday, August 11, 2024, at 3:30 p.m., at Hart's at the Cupola in Macon.  Dr. Jimmy Asbell will officiate.  Another memorial service will be held in St. Simons Island at a later date, time and place to be determined.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Lynn’s memory to a veteran’s or first responder’s organization, or other charity of their choice.

Hart’s Mortuary in Macon Georgia is in charge of arrangements.