OXFORD — Ira Thomas “I.T.” Hickinbottom, 78, died Thursday, Feb. 4, 2016, at his residence. Funeral services will be held on Saturday at 1 p.m. at New Hope Church in Oxford with the Rev. Willie Irvin officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be Friday from 1:30-6:30 p.m. The family will be present from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the chapel of Serenity-Martin Funeral Home, which is in charge of arrangements.

He was born in the Denmark community of Lafayette County.

He is survived by his loving wife, Rachel Hickinbottom; three sons, Ira Lee Hickinbottom, Leonte Thompson, both of Oxford, and Thomas Hickinbottom of Batesville; daughters, Celissa Hickinbottom and LaShetta Hickinbottom, both of Oxford; sister Evelyn Hudson of Oxford; three brothers, Joel Hickinbottom, Aaron Hickinbottom, both of Indianapolis, Indiana, and Noel Hickinbottom of Fayetteville, North Carolina; nine grandchildren and one great-granchild.