When a storm crashed a giant oak tree through Cabin 1 at the Jamestown 4-H Educational Center, staff members felt their hearts sink.
“The tree destroyed the bunk beds, walls, the roof and decades of memories,” said Carter Humphries, a longtime agent for the Henrico County Extension Office.
Every summer, hundreds of children from Henrico and communities across Virginia travel to the wooded camp along the James River to have fun with friends while exploring the outdoors.
The camp, established in 1928, has served as a rite of passage for children ages 9 through 13 by offering safe access to canoeing, archery, marine science and other outdoor activities.
Last October, in celebration of National 4-H Week, Henrico 4-H Club leaders contributed almost $29,000 as partial funds to repair Cabin 1. The donation was presented in memory of Lloyd Hicks, a longtime Henrico extension agent who later served as the camp’s director. The Henrico campers will get their first look at the rebuilt cabin during their camp week beginning July 28.
Hicks left an enduring legacy during his time with Extension.
“Lloyd set the bar high – for youth, for leaders and for himself,” said Sandra Dowdy, a longtime 4-H Club volunteer. “He inspired us to do things the right way and to take pride in doing them well. His love for 4-H and Jamestown camp was something we all felt.”
Hicks died in 2019 at age 69 after experiencing a medical emergency at his home in Edenton, N.C. His widow, Cathy Hicks, said she is comforted that he was in his favorite place doing things he loved.
Hicks, who lived in Mechanicsville, had fulfilled a dream for his retirement by purchasing a cabin on the Chowan River in eastern North Carolina, she said. There, he relished everything the outdoors offered – gardening, fishing and hosting holiday gatherings with friends and family.
Hicks was always happiest when he was in nature, his wife said. “Some people know exactly what they want to be when they grow up. I don’t think he really knew what he wanted to do, but he knew he liked nature,” she said.
Hicks, who was born in Suffolk, graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in Forestry before pursuing a career with the U.S. Army National Guard and Army Reserves. After rising to the rank of a colonel, Hicks found his next chapter a closer to home. With the discipline he learned and love of the outdoors, he brought an unmatched vigor when he started working for Henrico Extension in 1973. During Hicks’ 33 years as an agent, he “truly sought ‘To Make the Best Better’” — a living testament to the 4-H motto, Humphries said.
He established the Varina Rising Stars 4-H club, which remains active. He helped create the Northern District Horse Council, training volunteers and developing systems that endure, including a districtwide record book for measuring horses for competition. His work helped set the standard for district horse shows and equine education across Virginia.
Hicks also loved sharing his Extension training and knowledge by helping farmers improve their crop yields. He helped to raise $15,000 to establish the Colonial Farm Bureau Scholarship Fund, giving 4-H youth access to college scholarships. The initiative continues to benefit students years later.
In 2006, Hicks capped his three decades as an Extension agent by becoming program director at the Jamestown camp. Cathy saw the ideals of the 4-H clover — head, heart, hands, health — reflected in his work every day.
“He was a very good teacher,” she said. “Everything he did, he put his full effort into. He didn’t do anything halfway. His nickname in the Ruritan Club was even ‘Clover.’”
When she learned her husband would be honored posthumously 16 years after his retirement, Cathy said she was touched that so many people still revere him. “He never expected praise for anything. He never wanted to talk about himself, but he honored other people,” she said.
Even in retirement, Hicks continued to embody all four H’s. He set a goal to help someone each day. Each night, he shared with his wife what he accomplished. His daily acts of service included gathering litter during walks along the river, visiting older neighbors and helping others with house and yard work.
After her husband’s death, Cathy found a handwritten note in which he shared his secret to a happy life. It read, “Having someone to love, something valuable to do and something to look forward to.”
The children who bunk in Cabin 1 may have never met Hicks, but they will benefit from the culture and programs he helped to cultivate. In donating the check last fall, 4-H leaders decided it was a perfect use of remaining program funds that he had helped to raise.
“He cared deeply for children and wanted them to succeed — a true example of encouraging youth ‘To Make the Best Better,’” said Kendra Young, a former colleague with Henrico 4-H.
Virginia Cooperative Extension, a partnership between Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, and local governments, brings research‑based education to communities across the commonwealth.
Learn more about the Henrico Extension Office and local 4-H programs online.