Friends remember Franklin historian, preservationist and ‘scribbler’ Robert Hicks

Friends are remembering author and local historian Robert Hicks, who died last month at the age 71.

Hicks was best known for his first novel, the 2005 New York Times bestseller, “The Widow of the South.” The historical fiction tale follows a Southern woman who turns her plantation home into a war-time hospital during the Battle of Franklin.

The novel is credited for renewing interest in historic sites in Williamson County related to the Battle of Franklin, where the Confederacy suffered major losses to the Union Army in 1864 — a defeat that contributed to the war’s end.

“He just ingrained himself in art, music and community,” said Mindy Tate, a friend and colleague, who got to know Hicks in the ’80s while working as a reporter.

“It was about the word and the story for Robert, and he liked to call himself a scribbler,” she said, recalling his affection for No. 2 pencils.

Born in West Palm Beach, Fla., Hicks first moved to Tennessee in 1974. The author became a staple of Nashville’s literary scene and helped historic preservation efforts at sites associated with the Battle of Franklin, including Carnton Plantation and the Carter House.

Far from a Confederate sympathizer, Tate said, Hicks believed Civil War history deserved more scrutiny and examination.

“He always believed that history was the best teacher, and that there was a great lesson to be learned in Franklin,” said Tate in a phone interview last month. “That history will repeat itself if we don’t learn from it.”

Earlier in his career, Hicks worked as a publisher in Nashville’s music industry. He also helped B.B. King design a chain of nightclubs, earning him the nickname “the curator of vibe,” which he had printed on business cards.

“His grasp of the Civil War, his legendary work at Carnton, his many books, and his ongoing efforts to preserve our community’s historic sites, including his courageous stance to protect Fort Negley, brought him well deserved gratitude and appreciation,” said Kem Hinton, another friend, in an e-mail.

“I was blessed to share whiskey with him over the past five years … wonderful moments where I would be absolutely enthralled by his humor and humanity,” Hinton added.

A celebration of life was held for Hicks on March 6 at McGavock Cemetery, another site Hicks had championed for preservation. He died on Feb. 25 after a multi-year battle with bladder cancer, according to friends.

An obituary published in the New York Times noted Hicks was also an avid art collector and expert in 19th century Southern furniture and antiques.

Days before his passing, Hicks threw a “Palindrome party” for friends to coincide with Feb. 22, 2022, a date whose numerals reads the same forward and backward. Hicks posted about it on his Facebook page in what would be his final message.

“February 22, 1922, my dad, a college freshman of 18, decided to organize and gather friends together to celebrate 2/22/22. More formal times, all the young men dressed in white-tie and tails,” wrote Hicks.

Hicks said he wanted to carry on the family tradition and held a get-together at one of his favorite hangouts, The Harpeth Hotel in downtown Franklin.

“The tails were left at home and this time ‘round women were invited. All and all, a successful evening,” he wrote.

Tate was one of about 50 of Hicks’ friends in attendance that night. She said afterward, they all received individual text messages from Hicks that said, “Thank you for coming.”

“He lived his life filled with gratitude … certainly over the last few years of his life,” Tate said. “We’re just sad, and we’re going to miss him. But we want to live our lives in gratitude for his friendship and to exemplify his life.”