A Sacred Legacy Worth Preserving
Since the early 1930’s, the Hicks family land in Toombs County, Georgia has been a place of worship, education, celebration, and community. Today, this historic land is at risk — and we are fighting to reclaim and preserve it for future generations.
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Our Mission
The Hicks Preserve exists to protect, restore, and steward ten acres of sacred land that remain from the original Hicks family homestead — including the historic church, cemetery, and gathering grounds established more than eight decades ago.
Our goals are to:
Redeem the surrounding family land lost through a recent tax sale
Restore the historic Jordan Stream Missionary Baptist Church as a sacred venue for funerals, weddings, celebrations, and community-centered events.
Preserve and document the cemetery and its history
Build a Celebration of Life Center that will serve families, visitors, and community members
Develop a nature preserve for education, reflection, and outdoor recreation
Ensure this land stays in the community for generations
This is not just land.
It is heritage, identity, spiritual ground, and a story worth protecting.
An Urgent Moment: Help Us Reclaim What Was Lost
On December 2, 2025, our family discovered that the acreage surrounding the church and cemetery — land deeply rooted in our history — was lost in a tax sale due to taxes being two years behind.
This loss was devastating.
For years, our family worked to clear heir’s property issues, resolve legal matters, and pay outstanding obligations, including bringing the 2022 taxes current in October of this year. Despite these efforts, two years of outstanding taxes triggered a forced sale.
We now have a limited window to redeem the land.
Once the redemption period expires, the opportunity to reclaim these acres disappears forever.
With your help, we can:
Redeem the land
Place it permanently under the Hicks Preserve Foundation
Restore its beauty and purpose
Protect this sacred heritage from being lost
Why This Land Matters
The Hicks Preserve is a living piece of southern Black heritage — representing survival, faith, and family continuity during a time when land ownership for African Americans was difficult, rare, and hard-won.
This property is important because:
It is a historic family church built and sustained by descendants
It holds a generations-old cemetery where family members still rest
It has hosted baptisms, weddings, funerals, revivals, and reunions
It represents decades of Black landownership — something rapidly disappearing across the South
It stands as a symbol of resilience, remembrance, and community unity
When land like this is lost, we lose more than soil.
We lose stories, ancestors, identity, and legacy.
The Hicks Preserve Foundation is committed to ensuring that never happens again.
Our Way Forward - A Vision for Restoration and Renewal
We are laying the groundwork for a long-term plan that will honor the past while serving the present and future. Our vision includes:
1. Restoring the Hicks Chapel
A fully restored building for reflection, gatherings, and small services.
2. Creating the Celebration of Life Center
A comfortable, modern, community-centered space for:
Funeral and memorial services
Family reunions
Meetings and gatherings
Educational programs
Cultural preservation events
3. Preserving the Cemetery
Documenting names
Creating a digital archive
Improving signage and pathways
Landscaping and beautification
4. Building a Nature Preserve
Walking paths
Reflective gardens
Native plants and trees
Outdoor seating areas
Educational stations for children and families
5. Protecting the Land Forever
By placing all acreage under the Hicks Preserve Foundation, the land will be permanently safeguarded from loss, division, or future sale.
How You Can Help
Your support is vital. You can help us:
• Redeem the land
We face a time-sensitive deadline.
• Restore the historic church
Bringing life and dignity back to the building that has served generations.
• Build the Celebration of Life Center
A lasting space for families, community, and cultural heritage.
• Support ongoing preservation
Every dollar strengthens our ability to maintain and protect the land.
Donation Levels (optional):
$50 — Preservation Partner
$100 — Legacy Builder
$250 — Church Restoration Supporter
$500 — Cemetery Care Sponsor
$1,000 — Celebration of Life Founder
$5,000+ — Land Guardian (naming options available)
The Hicks Family Story
Our story begins more than 80 years ago when the Hicks family acquired this land and built a small church that would soon become the heart of a growing community.
Over the decades, this land has witnessed:
Songs sung in hope
Tears of loss and tears of joy
Families joined in marriage
Loved ones laid to rest
Hundreds of gatherings and celebrations
Generations discovering their roots
This land is part of who we are.
And we are committed to ensuring it remains part of who we will become.
Be Part of Saving This Legacy
If you would like to:
Volunteer
Join the preservation team
Offer professional services
Partner as a sponsor
Share your memories or family history
Please reach out. We would love to hear from you.