Amount Paid in taxes to date: $15,246.18
Our Mission
The Charles and Polly Ann Hicks Preserve, LLC was formed for the sole purpose of fully developing, protecting and preserving the historic Charles and Polly Ann Hicks estate and provide perpetual care to the Jordan Stream church cemetery.
There are currently over 100 heirs involved with the estate, thus making this a very expensive and time consuming task. Because of the number of heirs and the amount of previous tax expenditures, legal fees and other expenses, the estate does not offer any monetary value.
Hereafter, on this web page, the name Charles and Polly Ann Hicks Preserve, LLC will be referred to as “the Organization”.
Our Plan to Preserve the Legacy
Our goal is to clear titles by 11 October 2019 and begin preservation efforts.
The Organization will take steps necessary to ensure Charles Hicks' grave be registered as a National Historic Landmark.
The Organization will serve as collective owner of the estate.
The Organization will make necessary arrangements to pay all taxes due.
The organization will maintain a listing of all heirs and contact information.
The Organization will provide regular updates on the status of our efforts.
Heirs are invited and highly encouraged to donate funds to the Organization to help defray the costs of taxes, legal and other expenses associated with preserving the Charles and Polly Ann Hicks Estate.
Jordan Stream church congregation and school student body.
Phase i
Identify, contact and provide a summary of the Charles and Polly Ann Hicks estate, the Jordan Stream Baptist church and church cemetery.
Request all heirs transfer their interests in the Estate over to the Organization via Quit Claim deed.
Heirs may assign Power of Attorney to someone else who will be responsible for transferring their interests.
Once all heirs have been identified, briefed and have transferred their interest in the Estate, the Organization will take the following actions:
Serve as collective owner of the estate and consolidate all parcels.
Raise funds and make necessary arrangements to provide maintenance to the church cemetery.
Raise funds and make necessary repairs to the Jordan Stream church.
Raise funds and provide insurance coverage on the Jordan Stream church.
Raise funds and connect utilities to the Jordan Stream church.
Promote community awareness of the availability of grave space in the church cemetery.
Phase ii
1. The Charles and Polly Ann Hicks Preserve, LLC will be reformed and made into a non-profit organization, 501-c3; a managing board of directors will be assembled; non profit fund raising activities will begin and a paid position, entitled executive director, will be created.
a. The primary mission of the 501-c3 will be soliciting donations and generating income for the purpose of identifying, restoring, preserving, protecting and promoting public awareness of the Jordan Stream church cemetery and other endangered, neglected and/or abandoned cemeteries.
b. The 501-c3 will use the adjourning land for additional burials and other activities deemed appropriate for generating income.
c. The 501-c3 will allow former heirs closest to Charles and Polly Ann Hicks (grandchildren) burial space in the church cemetery at no cost.
d. The leadership of the 501-c3 will ensure procedures are developed to ensure a diverse, progressive and permanent board of directors is maintained into perpetuity.
2. The Jordan Stream church will be made available for meetings, conferences, special events, funerals and fund raising events.
3. The Hicks estate will be permanently conserved as a historic landmark.
HERE'S WHAT WE'VE DONE SO FAR
Members of the Charles and Polly Ann Hicks Preserve have conducted home visits, conference calls and and webinars with heirs of the estate for the purpose of informing them of the situation, the desired actions intended from them and to ascertain the names and contact information of other heirs.
The overwhelming majority of the Hicks family heirs have been very receptive, understanding and cooperative! In fact, there are only five heirs remaining who have not transferred their interests in the estate via notarized Quit Claim Deeds. See our photo gallery and rolling marque of heirs who have put “Pen to Paper” to help make this happen.
We have also established various social media accounts (like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn) and we’ve created a closed group Facebook page for the purpose of communicating updates, and addressing any questions, comments or concerns from family members about the Charles and Polly Ann Hicks Preserve Initiative. All family members or urged to join the closed group entitled “Heirs of Charles and Polly Ann Hicks”. In addition, we’ve started a fundraiser on Facebook.
The Charles and Polly Ann Hicks Preserve was featured on the nationally broadcast podcast “Lewis on the Law” show on Saturday, March 23, 2019 and on Friday, May 17, 2019 WSAV News On Your Side visited the estate. Please our “In the News” page for media coverage with received.
Next, the Charles and Polly Ann Hicks Preserve will start recording the Quit Claim Deeds with the Toombs county, Georgia Register of Deeds office and participating in legal proceedings to clear title of the church, cemetery and adjacent land.
Heirs Who have put “pen to paper”
