Gloria Lee Nicks

Gloria Lee Nicks, affectionately known as Momma Glo, Ms. Glo, and Big Glo, peacefully departed this life at the age of 84 on Friday morning, October 3, 2025, at 4:55 a.m., at her residence in St. Tammany Parish.

Born on October 5, 1940, in New Orleans at Charity Hospital, Gloria was the beloved daughter of the late Mack Lee Nicks and Victoria Lewis-Nicks. She was a devout Catholic and a passionate Christian, with her faith serving as a cornerstone of her life.

Gloria was a strong, independent woman with a warm and welcoming spirit. She never met a stranger and was always ready to feed anyone in need with her signature question, “Hey Baby, are you hungry?” Her love for reading and her deep knowledge of history and geography reflected her curiosity and lifelong passion for learning. A lover of entertainment, she enjoyed visiting the old-school jazz lounges and bars in the Treme area, where she reveled in the soulful rhythms and vibrant atmosphere.

Gloria was a proud New Orleanian who cherished cooking, Mardi Gras, crawfish and gumbo, and traveling. A fun fact: she was pregnant with Renaldo when she served as the 1982 Queen Zulu for Mardi Gras, a moment that remains a cherished part of her remarkable story.

Throughout her life, Gloria was a nurturing mother and grandmother. She was preceded in death by her brother, Ernest Lee Nicks, Sr.; her children, Keith Nicks, Rossano Nicks, Robbin Nicks-Tsibu, and Dario Nicks. She leaves behind her children, Daphne Nicks-Merricks, Michele Nicks, Saimoa Nicks-Farria, Renaldo Nicks, and her adopted grandson Rossano Steele, along with a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren who loved her dearly.

Gloria Lee Nicks will be remembered for her strength, kindness, faith, and the love she shared with all who knew her. She will be deeply missed but forever cherished in our hearts.

Funeral Services will be held at Honaker Funeral Home, 1751 Gause Blvd West, Slidell LA 70460, on Thursday, October 16, 2025, at 10:00am.

Friends may visit at the funeral home on  Thursday beginning at 9:00am.