Jean Hicks de Majewski

   Jean Hicks de Majewski, age 84, 1115 Sound Shore Road, Edenton, NC, died peacefully at home on September 14, 2020; her daughters Grace and Andrea were at her side. Jean, the middle daughter of Jasper and Grace Boyd Hicks, was born on January 12, 1936 in Henderson North Carolina, where she grew up. She attended the Woman’s College (UNCG) and was a graduate of the University of North Carolina with a B.A. in English.

   Jean was precocious and at age three repeated “The Night Before Christmas” to numerous community groups; she continued to entertain friends and family with her unmatched wit and far ranging opinions on literature and religion. As a child, she read a Life magazine article on Hell’s Kitchen and told her parents that she intended to move to New York and marry an immigrant; she achieved both goals.

   A steadfast student and reader, she began her writing career at an early age by working on her high school newspaper; moving to New York in 1957, she wrote for Theatre Arts and Parents magazines. Following her marriage to Andrew de Majewski in 1960 and the arrival of their children, the family moved to New Fairfield, Connecticut where Jean wrote for the Citizen News. She ended her professional career as vice president of Viking World Travel, a family company that specialized in overseas travel; this allowed her to travel extensively to seek out the best hotels and sites for her clients. Jean visited China soon after it opened to western tourists, and in 1981, she made a two-month trip around the world.

   A lifelong Episcopalian, Jean was an active member at St. Stephens (New York), St. James (Danbury, CT), and at St. Paul’s (Edenton) where she formerly served as a lector and on the Altar Guild. After moving to Edenton in 1988, she was a hostess for the annual Pilgrimage of Homes and Christmas Candlelight tours, a guide at Barker House, a Book Buddy in the public schools, a volunteer at the Food Pantry and for Meals-on-Wheels, and a member of the Chowan Arts Council. She also worked with the Chowan County Board of Elections, serving as Chief Judge for Yeopim Precinct. Jean was a proud Democrat and loved political debate. She also valued discussing spiritual and moral issues at meetings of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of the Albemarle and endorsed its beliefs in the inherent worth of all people and tolerance for differing religious views. The book club that she co-founded did not discuss books but enjoyed fellowship and good lunches at the Nothing Fancy Café.

   Jean is survived by daughters Grace and Andrea de Majewski, granddaughter Camellia, sister Gayle Fripp (Terry), and niece and nephews Chris Ellis, Allison Harris, and Graham Fripp. She was preceded in death by her husband Andrew, parents, and sister Grace. Her daughters note that they will miss her and “always honor her memory by being exactly who we are.” A memorial service will be held at the home on Saturday, September 19, 2020 at 11 a.m.

   In lieu of flowers, the family would like memorial gifts to be made to The Boyd Family Memorial Foundation, P.O. Box 183, Boydton, VA 23917 or to Cal for NC, P.O. Box 309, Raleigh, NC 27602.