Jennifer Jamieson Hicky Collins

Jennifer Jamieson Hicky Collins of Forrest City passed away suddenly on Saturday, August 15, 2026. She was 49 years old. Jennifer was born on October 4, 1976, in Memphis, to Preston Hicky and Marilyn Jamieson Hicky Cullum. As their very first baby girl, she was immediately adored. She lived and thrived her entire life in Forrest City, helping, nurturing, and loving so many people from all walks of life. She graduated with honors from Forrest City High School and carried many of those friendships throughout her life. She continued her education at the University of the South at Sewanee, just like her daddy before her. Jennifer later went on to attend the University of Memphis School of Law, earning numerous awards and graduating number one in her class of hundreds. For nearly thirty years, Jennifer served her community. From her first job at Edwin Houston when she was twelve to owning her own law office, Jennifer poured herself into everything she did. She began her extraordinary career when she and her father, Preston, opened Hicky & Collins. Working with her father before his retirement was one of her greatest sources of pride. Jennifer spent most of her career serving as a public defender in Forrest City and Wynne. She did not just have clients or friends; they were her family, and she treated them as such. Jennifer also faithfully served as the Palestine City Attorney for many years before deciding to resign to spend more time with “the loves of her life,” her girls and Hank. As a proud Christian, Jennifer spent her entire life in church, although she always said she felt God’s presence most strongly in beautiful places surrounded by His creations. She had a gift for making people feel God's love and warmth just by knowing her. Whether she always knew it or not, she was one of His strongest soldiers, sharing the gifts of His grace, joy, and wisdom with a lack of pretension and bounty of compassion Anyone who met her knew how much love Jennifer had to give. She expressed it through her many art projects, party planning, flower arranging, gift-giving, and innumerable other ways. Though everyone knew her biggest passion was her family, she always referred to her girls as her heart and soul. Out of all her honors and positions, one of her proudest roles was being a “JJ” to her four granddaughters: Addy, Charlotte, Elsie, and Oaklen. Jennifer is survived by the love of her life and husband, Bryan “Hank” Collins (also known most lovingly by Jennifer as her “Baby Daddy”), of Forrest City, Arkansas, along with their three daughters: Molly Collins Boothe (Justin Boothe) of Forrest City, Avery Grace Collins (Chase Shirley) of Columbia, South Carolina, and Peyton Yancey Collins of Fayetteville, Arkansas; plus, her four beloved granddaughters Adalynn, Charlotte, Elsie, and Oaklyn. Jennifer is also survived by her parents, Walt and Marilyn Cullum of Fayetteville, Arkansas; her siblings, Chris Hicky (Haley Hicky), and sons Hayes, Wyatt, and Hutch of Louisville, Kentucky; and Laura Kraus-Mere (Chuck Mere) and children, Gray, Dylan, and Sophie of Fayetteville, Arkansas; her bonus siblings, Heather England of Fayetteville, Arkansas; John Cullum (Jennifer Cullum) and children Katie, JJ, and Benjamin of Bentonville, Arkansas; Eric Cullum (Tate Cullum) and twins Thomas and Caroline of Little Rock, Arkansas; and Brad Cullum of Fayetteville, Arkansas. Jennifer was preceded in death by her dad, Preston Gray Hicky; her grandparents, Jerry and Mary Bliss Hicky, and W.C. and Peggy Jamieson; her two brothers-in-law, Zack Kraus and David England; and her parents-in-law, Bryan and Betty Collins. Jennifer’s celebration of life will be held at Graham Memorial Presbyterian Church in Forrest City on Friday, August 21, 2026, at 4:00 p.m., followed by a gathering at Pettus Hall.

Jennifer Jamieson Hicky Collins

October 4, 1976 - August 15, 2026