October 30, 1955 – November 11, 2020

Virginia “Ginny” Hicks passed away at home on Nov. 11, 2020, after a six-year battle with lung cancer.

Ginny was born in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, to Christine Fowler and the Rev. Manuel Fowler. She and her older brother, Charlie Fowler, grew up in the Fairfax, Virginia, area and Ginny graduated from George Mason University with a teaching degree. As a young adult, Ginny made her way to Oregon, where she met and married the love of her life, Maurie Hicks.

Ginny began her teaching career teaching primary grades for several years and worked to obtain her master’s in administration from the University of Oregon. After completing her master’s, she accepted her first job as principal at Roosevelt Elementary School in Medford. Later, she transferred to Griffin Creek Elementary, where she stayed until she retired.

After retirement, Ginny mentored new principals through a project developed by the Southern Oregon Education Service District and served as interim principal at Rogue River School for one year.

Throughout Ginny’s career, she was recognized for her leadership and dedication to quality education and was honored with the prestigious National Distinguished Principal award in November 2006.

Perhaps Ginny’s finest hours came after her diagnosis of Stage IV lung cancer. As a never-smoker, Ginny began educating the community about lung cancer, started a support group at Asante with fellow cancer warrior Rick Rose, and volunteered time with the Go 2 Foundation. As a volunteer, she was a phone buddy and would support other patients around the country who were battling the same disease. She made multiple trips to Washington, D.C., to lobby for research and funding for lung cancer. Ginny put her heart into volunteering with the Asante Foundation and sharing the story of Asante’s new cancer center currently under construction. As a patient of Asante’s cancer services, Ginny’s firsthand experience compelled her to help ensure patients have the best care possible, close to home.

In addition to her loving husband, Ginny is survived by her daughter, Lindsey, and grandson, Hudson, of Jacksonville. She was preceded in death by her mother, father and brother.

In lieu of flowers, please honor Ginny with your support of the Asante Cancer Center at AsanteFoundation.org/Ginny.

Her family extends a heartfelt thank you to Infusion Services, the hematology/oncology staff at Asante, Dr. Susan Kohler, Asante Hospice and Asante Foundation for helping Ginny live life to its fullest in-spite of cancer.

Celebration of life will be held at a later date.