ORANGE PARK, Fla. – The Historical Society of Orange Park is dedicated to preserving the stories of African Americans who have played significant roles in the area’s history.
One example of this is the story of Lawrence Hicks, also known as the “Ice Man,” who ran a successful ice delivery business in the late 1930s and 1940s.
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According to the Historical Society, Hicks, born in 1888, delivered ice blocks to homes, helping residents keep their refrigerators cool. However, Hicks currently rests in an unmarked grave, and the society would like to change that to properly honor his legacy.
The society’s president, Cynthia Cheatwood, expressed the importance of placing a headstone on Hicks' grave, located in Magnolia Cemetery. He passed away in 1982.
“The more we learn about him, the more injustice we see in him not having a headstone,” Cheatwood said.
Betty Robinson Demmons, a member of the Historical Society, recalls her childhood memories of Hicks.
“I knew that this is where he kept his ice, and after the ice business, we knew that this was the building. And I’m shocked it’s still here,” Demmons shared. She fondly remembers Hicks delivering ice blocks to her family home.
Although no photos of Hicks exist, the society has gathered articles and documents, including a 1919 signature in a book from the St. James African American Episcopal Church.
Cheatwood noted that after the ice business, Hicks transitioned to selling wood and was involved in various community organizations, earning him the reputation of a community pillar.
The society is currently working on creating a headstone to honor Hicks and his wife, ensuring their resting place is properly marked.
“It’s justice,” Cheatwood said. “He was serving the community for 40 years. But unfortunately passed before everyone else so there was no one to take care of him in his last moments.”
In addition to the headstone, the society hopes to transform Hicks' former building into a mini Black History museum, pending the location of the current owners.
Hicks will also be featured in the society’s Black history walking tours later this month, ensuring his story continues to be shared with future generations.