Rose Etta Hardy Hickson

Rose Etta Hardy Hickson, born on June 27, 1925 in Chase City, Va. departed from this life on Saturday, January 22, 2022 at the Hundley Center in South Hill, VA. at the age of 96. Rose leaves behind a legacy of service to God and people. Rose was one of five children born to Mary Etta Johnson and Leslie Hardy. She attended Concord Baptist Church and went through the Whiteman School System and graduated from South Hill Training School.          

Rose headed to New Jersey after high school with her two cousins, Marie and Kitty, to seek employment and opportunity. She worked as a live-in domestic until she secured a position as a Food Service Worker at the Veterans Administration Hospital in East Orange, NJ. where she remained until her retirement in 1990. Rose met Norwood Hickson in 1952 and they were married on September 27, 1953. Their union lasted 62 years and produced two children, Vera and Norwood, Jr. 

Rose moved from Newark to Maplewood, NJ with her family in 1959 becoming one of the first African American families to integrate that town. She was a member of Bethany Baptist Church in Newark from 1954 -1991. Rose was a gentle and hardworking woman who managed her finances well and supported her children and grandchildren throughout their educational pursuits ensuring that they took advantage of every educational opportunity.

Rose and Norwood moved to South Hill, Virginia in 1991 following their retirement where they built and resided in their “dream home” near Rose’s beloved sister Muriel and baby brother, Henry “Clint”. She joined Lone Oak Baptist Church in Chase City, Virginia and served as a member of the Pastor’s Aid committee and the Senior Choir. Rose enjoyed visiting friends and family, baking delicious cakes and pies for friends and church fundraisers, supporting her church and tending to her flowers. She was always eager to share whatever she had with others and especially loved to encourage children.

Rose was preceded in death by her loving husband of 62 years, Norwood Hickson, Sr. and her siblings Rachel, Muriel, Henry “Clint” and Clarence “KingFish”.

She is survived by her daughter: Vera Hickson Upshaw and son-in-law, Ross Upshaw, Hackensack, NJ; her son: Norwood Hickson, Jr., Atlanta, GA; her grandchildren: Sam Hickson, Atlanta, GA and Mackenzie Upshaw, Lodi, NJ; sister-in-law: Liz Hardy, South Hill, VA and her children Henry    Hardy Jr., Bowie, MD and Marsha Hawkins, South Hill, VA; and a host of loving cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. We thank God for the gift of an incredibly loving and well lived life.

A Celebration of her life will be held at 11 am, Saturday, January 29, 2022 at the Chapel of Oris P. Jones Funeral Establishment, 301 West Atlantic Street, South Hill, Virginia with Rev. Dr. Freddie Terry, Jr., pastor of Lone Oak Baptist Church, Chase City, Virginia officiating.  Interment will follow at Crestview Memorial Park.  Public viewing will be from 2-4 pm, Friday, January 28, 2022 and one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. All attendees are asked to wear a face covering and practice social distancing while attending both.  

The service will be live-streamed here on the website beginning at 11 am, Saturday, January 29, 2022.

Arrangements are entrusted to the professional staff of Oris P. Jones Funeral Establishment. 434.447.7158   www.orispjones.com