Helen Maxine Hicks, age 86 of Dayton Mountain, passed away at her home on Thursday, February 12, 2026. She was born in Dayton on March 20, 1939, the daughter of the late Willis and Nora (Williams) Montgomery. She was also preceded in death by her sisters, Almeda “Mickey” Davis and Mattie Jane Montgomery and her brothers, James Farris Montgomery, Murl Lee Montgomery, William Howard “Peck” Montgomery, Euclid Agnew “John” Montgomery, James Ross Montgomery, Billy Gene Montgomery, and Jerry Lee Montgomery.

Helen was a lifelong Dayton resident who graduated from Rhea Central High School and studied at Bryan College. She worked as a bookkeeper for a grocery store in North Carolina and had a passion for sewing. A devoted member of Cranmore Cove Baptist Church, she remained connected to the congregation throughout her life.

Helen is survived by her husband of 64 years, Billy Hicks of Dayton Mountain; her son, Michael Hicks of Dayton; her daughter, JoCarole (Robert) Knapp of Riner, Virginia; her grandchildren, Nathaniel Hicks of Spring City, Julien Hicks of Nashville, Cannon Knapp of Shortpump, Virginia, and Isabella Hicks of Chattanooga; her great-granddaughter, Harper; and her sisters, Minnie (Larry) Hill of Trinity, North Carolina, and Charlene (Michael) Calhoun of High Point, North Carolina.

Funeral services for Helen will be in the funeral home chapel on Monday, February 16, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Steve Reid officiating. She will be laid to rest in Cove Cemetery after the service.

Please share your memories and photos of Helen on her online guestbook at www.vanderwallfh.com.

The family is being cared for by Vanderwall Funeral Home in Dayton, Tennessee, where they will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. until the time of the service.