Announcing the Death of Homer Hickam's Mother, Elsie Gardener Hickam

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) October 14, 2009 -- Garden City, SC - Elsie Gardener Hickam, 97, of Garden City, SC, died quietly in her sleep on Oct. 7, 2009. Until the last, she lived in her house in Garden City, adjacent to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. She was prominently featured as a tough, opinionated and independent mountain woman in the memoirs written by her son, Homer Hickam, Jr. which included Rocket Boys, The Coalwood Way, Sky of Stone, and We Are Not Afraid. Her character was played by Natalie Canerday in the award-winning film October Sky.

She was born on June 15, 1912 in Atkin (near Gary), McDowell County, West Virginia. She lived for many years in Coalwood, West Virginia, then moved to live in Garden City, South Carolina. She was preceded in death by her husband, Homer Hickam, Sr., who died on Sept. 2, 1989. Until his retirement, Homer was the mine superintendent of Olga Coal Company. Also featured in the memoirs written by his youngest son, Mr. Hickam was portrayed by Chris Cooper in October Sky.

Elsie was a graduate of Gary High School, class of 1930. She was active in many organizations in Coalwood including the Coalwood Community Church Methodist Women's Circle and the Olga Woman's Club. She also supported the local schools, working tirelessly to raise funds for a variety of student activities. Most of all, she loved whatever her two sons were doing and helped them with advice and counseling throughout her long life. The oldest of two sons, Jim, was for many years the football coach at Northside High School, in Roanoke, Virginia. Her youngest son, Homer, also known as Sonny, is a retired NASA engineer and today a popular novelist and memoirist. He lives in Huntsville, Alabama, and St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands.

Homer, Jr.'s comments on his mother's passing are as follows: Mom had a great life. Everything she wanted to do, she did. She was known for her tenacity, her love of life, her raw intelligence, and her wisdom. She raised two sons, an alligator, a fox, a squirrel, and numerous dogs and cats, all of whom she loved. They just don't make them like her anymore. Her family and friends are going to miss her but we take comfort she stayed true to herself to the end.

Memorial services will be private.