Katharine Murray Arrowood Hicks

Katharine Murray Arrowood Hicks (“Kay”) departed this life on September 24, 2025, just three weeks shy of her 98th birthday.

Kay was born in Concord, North Carolina on October 15, 1927, to the Reverend Robert S. Arrowood, Sr., and Mary Dimock Murray Arrowood. After the death of her mother at a young age, she was raised by an aunt who became her step-mother: Margaret Murray Arrowood.

She is pre-deceased by her husband, Jack Holland Hicks, her brother Robert S. Arrowood, Jr., and sister Mary Dickson Arrowood Hopson.

Kay graduated from UNCG in 1948 and from the Presbyterian School of Christian Education in 1952. She served as a Director of Christian Education at Westminster Presbyterian Church from 1955-1958, and later started a Girl Scout troop there. She enjoyed her work as a teacher’s assistant for the Lynchburg Public Schools, from 1973 to 1989. Kay was an active volunteer with the Girl Scouts, the Learning Disability Association, Meals on Wheels, the Lynchburg Community Concert Association, the Lodge of the Fisherman, and Chrysalis Interfaith Retreat Center.

Surviving are her children, Mary Hicks, John Hicks (Carol Grace), and Kathy Matthews (Monte); grandsons Sam Hicks, Duncan Matthews, and Ethan Matthews; life-long friends Sally Flournoy Gerhardt and Mary Cowles Lavigne; and many beloved neighbors, nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Centra Hospice and the owners and staff of Edley Place Home Care for their excellent care of Kay during her final months.

A graveside service will be held at Greenwood Cemetery (Lot 76, Section 3) in Bedford, Virginia at 11 am on Saturday, November 1, 2025. Following the service, family and friends are invited to an informal lunch. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Church of the Covenant (chcov.org), Lynchburg Daily Bread (lynchburgdailybread.com), or Society of St. Andrew (endhunger.org).

One of Kay’s Haikus:

Evening light glancing through trees

Gives a fitful glimpse of God’s love.

There is some hope!

Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg is assisting the family.