Willa Mae Sermons Hicks

Willa Mae Sermons Hicks

AGE: 86 • Somerville

Mrs. Willa Mae Sermons Hicks, of Somerville, passed away in Lubbock, Texas, on Wednesday, September 5, 2012. Mrs. Willa Mae Sermons Hicks was born June 14, 1926, in Somerville, New Jersey, the eldest child of Willie and Mattie Sermons. Her parents, who migrated from Georgia, settled in Somerville. She attended local schools graduating from Somerville High School in 1944. After high school she worked for several industries; Belle Meade Quartermaster Depot, Art Color Publishing, RCA and AT&T, where she retired from in 1991. The Sermons family were life-long members of St. Paul Baptist Church; her father was a Deacon, her mother the Mother of the Church, she and her siblings attending Sunday School, serving in the choir, usher board, YPD, and in later years Mrs. Hicks played piano and directed the choir for the church. As a youth activist, she participated in several rally's to highlight injustices against minorities in her community. This was the beginning of her lifelong commitment as a community leader. She also possessed a strong civic affinity, resulting in her affiliation with and holding leadership roles in the National Council of Negro Women; Raritan Valley Section, Oziel Order of Eastern Star Inc.; Prince Hall Affiliation, and the Evergreen Shelter Grand United Order of Antelopes. While working at Belle Mead during WWII, she met and married Carlton Hicks, of Lubbock, Texas, in 1946; he preceded her in death in 1965. They have four children, Caryl Hicks James, of Morrisville, NC, Frances (Suzie) Hicks, of Selma, NC, Carlton Hicks, Jr., of Lubbock, TX, and Ronald Hicks, of Jackson, NJ; six grandchildren and twelve great grand children. Her siblings include one living sister, Mrs. Evelyn Field, of Bridgewater, NJ, and the late Delores Nehemiah, of Los Angeles, CA, Marjorie Winkey, of Somerville, and James Sermons, of Plainfield, NJ.

Her home going service will be held at St. Paul Baptist Church, 85 Hamilton Street, Somerville, on Tuesday, September 11, 2012 @ 12.00 noon with a viewing from 10:00am - 12:00 noon at the church also on Tuesday. Interment The New Cemetery Associaton of Somerville. Arrangements are under the direction of the Lehrer-Gibilisco Funeral Home, 275 West Milton Avenue, Rahway. www.lehrergibilisco.com. Flowers may be sent to St. Paul Baptist Church, 85 Hamilton St., Somerville on September 11, 2012.