OUR STORY — THE HICKS PRESERVE FOUNDATION
A Legacy Worth Protecting
From heirs property to protected preserve — our story is about faith, family, resilience, and restoring what generations before us built.
WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
Roots in Faith & Family
For more than a century, this land in Toombs County, Georgia has been sacred ground.
It is home to the historic Jordan Stream Missionary Baptist Church, a place where families worshiped, celebrated, mourned, learned, and gathered — generation after generation.
Beside the church lies a cemetery holding the resting place of parents, grandparents, and ancestors whose stories shaped this community.
This land was more than property.
It was identity.
It was memory.
It was home.
Our Story
More than eight decades ago, the Hicks family settled this property and established the Jordan Stream Missionary Baptist Church, which quickly became the spiritual and social center of the community. The land has witnessed baptisms, revivals, weddings, funerals, and countless family gatherings. It holds memories that span generations.
As with many African American families in the rural South, the property eventually became heirs property, creating legal complexities that made ownership unclear and vulnerable. Over several years, we worked steadily to resolve these issues, culminating in gaining clear title to the land and assuming rightful stewardship.
Despite these efforts, two years of unpaid taxes led to a December 2025 tax sale, resulting in the loss of surrounding acreage. Today, we are committed to redeeming and restoring the land, ensuring its preservation under the Hicks Preserve Foundation and protecting this sacred space from future risk.
Why This Land Matters
The Hicks Preserve is more than a place — it is a symbol of resilience and the endurance of Black landownership in Georgia. It reflects:
Generational faith and tradition
A historic rural church built through community spirit
A cemetery holding the stories of ancestors and loved ones
A gathering place for family connection and celebration
A living reminder of the importance of preserving African American heritage and history
This land connects past, present, and future — and its preservation is an investment in legacy.
Our Vision for the Future
We are developing a long-term plan that will transform the Hicks Preserve into a place of beauty, purpose, and remembrance. Our vision includes:
✔️ Restoring the Jordan Stream Missionary Baptist Church
A reverently restored venue for funerals, weddings, special services, and community gatherings.
✔️ Building the Celebration of Life Center
A modern, multipurpose facility designed to serve families, churches, organizations, and visitors with comfort and dignity.
✔️ Preserving and Beautifying the Cemetery
Protecting gravesites, improving pathways, documenting history, and ensuring perpetual care.
✔️ Developing Walking Trails and Nature Features
Creating peaceful, reflective spaces surrounded by nature, honoring the land’s spiritual roots.
✔️ Ensuring Permanent Protection
Placing the entire site under the Hicks Preserve Foundation so the land remains safeguarded for generations.
Our Commitment
The Hicks Preserve Foundation is committed to transparency, stewardship, and cultural preservation. With community support, donor partnership, and a clear long-term plan, we are working tirelessly to secure the land, restore its structures, and elevate it into a place of dignity, history, and hope.
Join Us
We invite you to join our mission to protect this historic land and build a place where families, communities, and future generations can gather, remember, and celebrate life.
Whether through donations, partnership, volunteer efforts, or simply sharing our story, your support makes a difference.
Together, we can honor the past and build a future worthy of the legacy.