The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office has lost a close friend and beloved co-worker. Investigator Mark Hicks has died at the age of 53, while away on vacation in Texas visiting family. There he suffered from an aneurysm and passed away at an Austin, Texas hospital. Mark joined the Sheriff's Office in 1995 as a Reserve Deputy and then to a full time sworn Deputy Sheriff in 1996. He was promoted to Investigations in 2003. He was a resident of Cedar Bluff where he served as a city councilman. Arrangements are for October 21, 2010 at Perry's Funeral Home in Centre, AL from 11:00 am until 3:00 pm. Funeral services are at 3:00 pm at the funeral home and burial will follow at Weiss Lake Memorial Gardens on Highway 68 in Cedar Bluff, AL.