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| Name: |
Thelma Miller Hicks
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| Date: |
September 21st, 1933 - February 10th, 2010
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| Obituary: |
On September 21st, 1933, a little girl named Thelma Miller was born to Sam Henry Miller and Sue Gray Taylor Miller in Riverhead - Long Island, New York. When she was about four, Thelma, her parents and her four sisters drove from Long Island to Cartersville, Virginia to help Grandpa John take care of the family farm. It was a cold, long drive and Thelma sat tightly between her sisters to keep warm. Due to segregation, there were few stops they could make along the way. After what seemed like an eternity to her, they arrived safely in Cartersville to start a new life in the country.
Thelma had a very happy childhood despite the poverty of the Great Depression and the segregation in South. Her life revolved around family, church and school. Growing up, she described herself as skinny, shy, and well behaved because she did not want to disappoint her parents. She adored them, and her siblings, which quickly grew to a total of 11. She said she always felt loved back then, and was especially blessed that her family was able to provide a happy home, food, clothes and books for them to attend school. Her appreciation for education showed as she gladly walked several miles a day to attend Pine Grove School. She was disciplined and worked hard to earn her high school diploma, an accomplishment that many African Americans of that era were not able to obtain.
A few years after completing high school, Thelma ventured off to Milford, Delaware to help her sister Edith and husband Mitchell Curry with their young children. Not long after her arrival, she was introduced to a handsome man named Richard Ross Hicks, who had recently returned home from the military. Richard just happened by one day to get Mitchell to fix his radio and was enthralled with the visiting sister’s beauty. Richard went home quickly, but soon returned to the Curry household all dressed up and asked Edith if he could take her visiting sister out on a date. Edith said yes, so they went to Rosedale Beach. Thelma said he was a perfect officer and gentleman. Three months after their first date, the sweethearts married on September 23, 1956.
Ten months after the wedding, their first child Terri arrived. A second child, Stephanie, followed fourteen months later. Thelma nurtured her young children, and supported Richard while he completed his education, and through his career change from teacher to preacher. Although times were lean in the early years of their marriage, Thelma remained committed to her husband and children through prayer, perseverance and her love of family.
Thelma’s role as a Methodist preacher’s wife began in the early 60’s with Richard’s first appointment in Townsend, Delaware. In a short time, they were sent to Chestertown, Maryland where their third child Georgia was born. Four years and another move later,
a fourth daughter, Marjorie, was born in Princess Anne, Maryland. The couple had their hands full. But even in these times, Thelma and Richard made room in their home and hearts for other relatives who needed help and support.
From time to time, Richard would suggest that Thelma pursue a career of her own. She considered it, and even made a few attempts. But she ultimately found that home was where she wanted to be, and that the happiness and well-being of her children were most important to her.
Thelma began to work more outside the home in the 70s, 80s and 90s as her children got older. She held jobs in social service agencies, the correctional system, and also worked with young children. During this time the girls were teenagers, and Richard’s ministerial work required him to travel quite a bit. Even so, Thelma held down the fort and supported them in their various high school and extracurricular activities. She supported all of her daughters and granddaughter Tia through graduation from college.
Along the way Thelma found time to develop some interests of her own. She had an artistic flair, and enjoyed painting and writing poetry. She had a lovely soprano voice, and according to the girls, knew just about every hymn ever written. Thelma told them she once had dreams of being an opera singer like Leontyne Price. She also had her own style of dress, and could make lovely head wraps out of just about any kind of fabric. Though she was quiet and reserved, her children and grandchildren knew that she had quite a sense of humor, and at times could be downright hilarious.
Upon Richard’s retirement in 1996, the couple settled in Dover, Delaware. Over the years, they had moved about 20 times, so they were glad to return to Richard’s home state and be close to family. By this time, her children had blossoming families of their own. Thelma embraced the role of loving grandmother as much as she did the role of loving mother. Her door was always open to her grandchildren, and she spoiled them with peppermints, butterscotch, loose change, and every now and then a few bills.
In 2001, she lost her one and only love, Richard. It was a trying time, but Thelma sought and found refuge in the church. She made new friends, and found new meaning in her own life through increased involvement in various ministries at Whatcoat United Methodist Church.
In 2007, her health started to seriously decline. But even then, she remained grateful for her life and her many blessings, and unselfishly shared her love and wisdom with others. She didn’t complain much. Near the end, despite her fragile state, she said, “I’ve had a good life.” She said her greatest joy was her children.
Thelma departed this life at Broadmeadow Nursing Home in Middletown, Delaware on February 10th, 2010. The staff there adored her and said she was a gracious and lovely woman with a sweet spirit.
She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, five siblings, and her beloved granddaughter, Shannon. To cherish her memory, she leaves four daughters - Terri (Jack) Wanzer, Stephanie Willett, Georgia (Daryl) Brown and Marjorie Hicks; an “adopted” daughter, Satana Dewberry; three sisters - Generive Baxter, Hazel Austin, Gloria (William) Anderson; two brothers - Reginald (Loretta) Miller and Glen (Larraine) Miller; several in-laws - Shirley (Harvey) Riley, Joseph (Angie) Hicks, Wellington Hicks and Robert Hicks; four granddaughters - Tia (George) Fitzgerald, Tracy Brooks, Kelly Willett and Alexis Brown; six grandsons - Wendell Harper, Brandon Harper, Stephen Willett, Jonathon Morrison, Jesse Brown and David Morrison; three great-granddaughters - Dejah Distance, Naze’ Harper and Georgia Fitzgerald; two great-grandsons - Wendell Harper Jr. and Isaiah Drewery; and a host of loving nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
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| Cemetery: |
Milford Community Cemetery, Inc.
300 S. Rehoboth Blvd.
Milford, DE 19963 (map/driving directions)
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| Visitations: |
6:00PM to 8:00PM on Friday, February 19th, 2010 at Whatcoat United Methodist Church (map/driving directions)
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| Services: |
In-state at 9:00AM, Service at 11:00AM at Whatcoat United Methodist Church on Saturday, February 20th, 2010 (map/driving directions)
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