Hamilton Don Bickham

Hamilton Don Bickham, born September 28, 1930 to Houston Bickham and Geneva (“Jence”) Bickham in Franklinton, Louisiana, passed away peacefully at his home in Vancleave, Mississippi, on Tuesday, April 8, 2014. As a child he fell in love with the Mississippi Gulf Coast spending summers at his family’s cabin at the Old Methodist campground in Biloxi, Mississippi. He attended Gulf Coast Military Academy in the early 1940s until a polio outbreak shortened the semester. Later he attended Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville, Georgia and was an active alumnus until his passing. He was the founder of Bickham Petroleum Inc. which he sold in the early 1980s and retired to his home in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. He and his wife of 22 years, Deanna purchased and restored the Wallace house on Beach Boulevard in Biloxi, Mississippi where they resided until Katrina destroyed the old home and almost took their lives. Hamilton received a Bachelor of Art degree from Southeastern Louisiana University and was honored by the University as a 50 year alumnus. He served with the Louisiana National Guard during the 1950s. He obtained a pilot’s license as a teenager and was an avid yachtsman; having motored the entire Eastern seaboard from the New York Yacht club to Madisonville, Louisiana. At age 17, he rode his 1946 Indian Chief motorcycle from Louisiana to South Bend, Indiana to retrieve a school bus for his Father’s Chevrolet dealership and made the Associated Press as a “missing heir” after failing to call his mother every day as he had promised. When he returned, his Father confiscated and sold his Indian as his punishment. He was a Mason (Scottish Rites), a lifelong Christian and although he became an Episcopalian, he still made generous donations to his childhood (Methodist) Church. He and his wife, Deanna Cole-Bickham, were members of the Biloxi Church of the Redeemer where he met his good friend and spiritual advisor Bishop Jack Biggers who has given him and his wife great comfort throughout the years, especially during his most recent illness. The Bickhams in 2010 became and are current members of St. Pierre’s Episcopal Church. In keeping with his adventurous spirit, Hamilton and Deanna traveled extensively throughout Europe and Russia. Fiercely intelligent, controversial, a true “Southern Gentleman” he lived and died on his own terms; braving multiple medical issues. He is survived by his wife, Deanna Cole-Bickham of Vancleave, Mississippi; his son, Brent Marshall (Sharon Bonzo) Bickham of Ocean Springs, Mississippi; his daughters, Eve Bickham (Freddie) Nations of Ocean Springs, Mississippi and Laurie Bickham Burris of Franklinton, Louisiana; 6 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother, Bruce Bickham and his cousin, Gaylord Bickham, of Franklinton, Louisiana; and many other loving nieces, nephews, friends and relatives throughout Louisiana and Mississippi. Visitation for family and friends will be Saturday, April 12, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Pierre’s Episcopal Church, 4412 Gautier-Vancleave Road, Gautier, Mississippi. The memorial service will follow at 11:00 a.m. and fellowship in the Church hall immediately following. The Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.