Pastor Mary L. Hickman

Pastor Mary L. Hickman, the daughter of the late Pastor Walter Lloyd and the late Gertrude E. Lloyd, entered this world on June 20, 1956, and she peacefully transitioned to her heavenly home at Kershaw Health Medical Center on Friday, September 25, 2020. She was married to Maxie Marshall, who blessed her with two children conceived in love, Walter and Crystal. After her divorce, she met and married her soulmate, Covell Hickman, who blessed her with a son, Jermaine. 

Mary was very loving, caring, and a precious jewel to our family.  She was a beautiful light of radiance and super sweet. Her laughter was contagious, and she gave the best hugs. She was a dynamic leader. She knew when to be soft and when to be strong. She was indeed a virtuous, holy lady. She truly showed the love of God. She knew a heart that loves is a heart that forgives.  She never met a stranger and never hesitated to give help to others. Being a servant of the Lord was her main priority. At an early age, she received and professed her faith in Christ at Metropolitan United Methodist Church in Baltimore, Maryland. She later became a member of Community Baptist Church under the leadership of her father.  

Mary served as an usher for seventeen years until receiving her call to the ministry. She worked faithfully as a pastor for twenty-four years at Community Baptist Church. She led many souls to Christ and promoted missionary work. Her faith never wavered. She ministered, encouraged, prayed for others, and rarely focused on herself. She trained new pastors and ministers to the Gospel, including her three associate ministers at Community Baptist Church. She loved  fellowshiping, praising and worshipping the Lord. She was always thinking about and covering her church members and others with prayers and supplications to God. She deeply loved her entire family, church family, and friends. She witnessed Christ to people whom she felt needed to know the grace of God. She was a bold ambassador of the Lord. 

Mary was genuine and always the same when you met her. Her upbeat, positive attitude was a great inspiration to many people. She was humble and generous with her heart. She was a gifted, detailed storyteller and enjoyed special, intimate moments with all of her family. She closely bonded with her sisters, Margaret, Delores, Phyllis, and Vivian, and the best brother in the world, Wendell. Margaret was her Overseer. Vivian was her Pastor. Delores was her “twin.” Phyllis was her favorite to have spirited discussions with and Wendell was her driver and the taste tester for her new recipes. She loved her children unconditionally and was an amazing Mom. She was very proud of her children and very overprotective of them. Crystal, her baby girl, Jermaine, her August baby, and Junior, her Christmas baby, were the delight of her life.  Her children know a mother’s love is valuable and priceless and considered her the best Mama in the whole world. She was also a wonderful second mother to her nieces and nephews. She gave them her all, which included encouragement and love. She was their biggest cheerleader and was at every event in which they participated. She was happy and thrilled to have grandchildren. She lovingly named Salley Caughman as her spiritual daughter. Her eyes would often sparkle with joy when talking about her family or when she would share quality time with them.  

Mary graduated from Coppin State University with honors summa cum laude. She received her master’s degree in education from Winthrop University. She attended SC State University for classes related to teaching. She started her teaching career in Lee County working with special needs students. She came home to Kershaw County, where she taught history and special education at North Central High and Middle Schools until her retirement. She served on numerous committees and organizations.  She was honored to serve on the SACS committee, and she was an adjunct professor at Central Carolina Technical College. Another of her greatest joys was in cooking for her family. She loved making the dinners for holiday events and would love knowing we enjoyed them. She also loved to crochet, play computer games, work crossword puzzles, write poetry, watch Alaskan TV shows, and discuss current events. Mary was a blessing to everyone who knew her. Her awesome legacy will definitely continue.  

Mary was predeceased by her mother and father, Gertrude Norwood Lloyd and Walter A. Lloyd; her husband, Covell Hickman; her brother, Walter A. Lloyd, Jr. and sister, Barbara Jean Norwood. 

She is survived by her children: Maxie Walter (Lisa) Marshall of Lawton, OK; Crystal Seandel Marshall, and Jermaine Hunter of Raleigh, NC;  brother, Wendell (Vivian)Norwood; sisters, Margaret Lopez, M. Phyllis (Coleman) Harris-Drakeford, and Delores Lloyd; nieces and nephews, James (Salma) Groom, ?omasenia (Mel) Johnson, Aleesa (Dennis) Williams, David Hickman, Teresa Hickman, Teddy (Brenda) Hickman, Timothy (Jenn) Norwood, Canisha Fletcher, Christopher (Shannon) Harris, Joseph (Jasmine) Harris, Gertrude Stoney, and Donna Stoney; her grandchildren, Chase Norwood, Janil (Kadarius) Seegars, Janiah Hunter, Nicole Jackson, Terrance Jackson, and Charles (CJ) Jackson, Jr; ten great-grandchildren; aunts and uncles, Bernice Norwood, Mary Mildred Owens, Ida Norwood, John “Ray” Lloyd, and Nathaniel Norwood; and a host of other nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, and friends.

We thank Kershaw Home Health and her caregivers: Tony Greene, Trey Greene, Timmy King, Manarsha Washington, Vernon Williams, and Darelyn Williams. Special thanks to Carolyn Salmond, Cheryl Majors, Alma Greene, James, and Salley Caughman, Lena Campbell, Elaine Washington, Larry Dow, Jamie Truesdale, and Bill Truesdale. A very special thanks to Evangelistic Community Center, Hartsville Deliverance Center, and God’s Deliverance Center.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Community Baptist Church. 

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