The History of Hickson Funeral Home
The history of Hickson Funeral Home dates to 1924, when Mrs. Minnie L. Brown, the grandmother of Mr. Eugene Hickson, Sr., established the funeral home as the Arcadia Funeral Home, the oldest continuously operated funeral home in DeSoto County. In 1960, Mr. Hickson and his wife, Verlene, purchased the business from his grandmother, renaming it Hickson Funeral Home. A second-generation funeral director, Mr. Hickson graduated from the renowned Gupton Jones College of Mortuary Science, where he honed his skills in funeral directing, embalming, and restorative arts.
Mr. and Mrs. Hickson had three children: Eugene Jr., Vergena, and Edward, all of whom grew up in the funeral home. Mr. Hickson began teaching his son Edward the profession at age 12, guiding him in caring for both the living and the deceased. In the days before EMT services, Hickson Funeral Home also served as the ambulance provider for DeSoto County. In 1979, Mr. Hickson was elected the first African American mayor of Arcadia.
Edward Hickson, following in his father’s footsteps, became a third-generation licensed funeral director and embalmer after graduating from The College of Boca Raton (now Lynn University) in 1986. His training ensured the funeral home’s continued success. In 1996, Edward and his wife, Priscilla W. Hickson, expanded the family business by opening a second location in the historic Dunbar community of Fort Myers, Florida. This marked the beginning of a new chapter for Hickson Funeral Home, as Edward developed his own distinctive approach to caring for grieving families.
In 1998, the funeral home incorporated, officially becoming Hickson Funeral Home, Inc. Edward and Priscilla’s daughter, Brittany C. Hickson, carries on the family legacy as a fourth-generation funeral director and embalmer. Brittany began her career in funeral services in 2019, inspired by her family’s tradition and a strong desire to serve her community. A graduate of St. Petersburg College, Brittany earned her degree in Funeral Services and, as of 2024, is a licensed funeral director and embalmer. She combines tradition with innovation in her work, ensuring that every life she honors is celebrated with dignity, compassion, and grace.
In 2020, Mr. Eugene Hickson, Sr. transitioned, passing the torch to his son, Edward, and granddaughter, Brittany, to carry on the Hickson legacy. We honor him then, and now, as we continue to provide exceptional service to the families in our community.
For 100 years, Hickson Funeral Home has proudly served families in DeSoto, Lee, and surrounding counties, offering dignified, compassionate, and professional services. The Hickson family’s motto, “Service Is Our Business,” reflects their commitment to excellence. As Mr. Eugene Hickson, Sr. would say, “You Can’t Beat a Hickson Service.”
