Connie Ann Hicks

Connie Ann Simmons Hicks was born January 26, 1949, to Juanita Nebblet Simmons and Leonard Luke Simmons, at Saint Elizabeth’s Hospital in the Fifth Ward of Houston, Texas. She was the firstborn of 6 children.

After the family moved to Galena Manor in 1951, she attended first grade at Fidelity (grades 1st - 8th) School in 1955, transferring to Fidelity Manor Elementary School in 1956. She graduated from Fidelity Manor Junior-Senior High School in 1967, where she excelled in art, earned valedictorian status, and received the Jesse H. Jones scholarship. Connie continued her education at the University of Houston main campus, where she was on the Charter line of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, Epsilon Lambda chapter. After graduating with a BA in English, she pursued post-baccalaureate studies in Social Work at the University of Houston and Teacher Education at Texas Southern University.

After graduating from the University of Houston, she worked for Honeywell Technologies, where she set up and managed their technology development library. While at Honeywell, she taught herself Fortran, wrote code, and sold technology products to other companies. Soltex, Inc. was her next pursuit, working in its sales department.

Connie’s rapport with young people was evident from the time she was employed as a Youth Counselor during summers at the University of Houston. Throughout her career as a professional educator in Houston, North Forest, Aldine, and Galena Park ISDs. She was a student favorite and often elected teacher of the year. Her love for her students continued in her work with The Houston Business Charter School, even when Charter funds were too low to pay her full salary. Her home was often a place of comfort as youth, both from the church and her own family, gravitated to her. After retirement, she became the primary caretaker for the matriarch of the family.

She had a deep love for others, true servant’s heart. She was always available to help, often forsaking her own needs to ensure the success, comfort, and stability of others. Connie was baptized at an early age at New Hope Baptist Church under the pastorate of M. M. Pierson, where she sang in the children’s and young adult choirs. She met and married Larry Hicks, with whom she had one son, Laurence Cornell Hicks. Later, she received the Holy Spirit and joined Apostolic Tabernacle under the pastorate of Lester Roch, where she worked in the children’s, ushers, and choir ministries. Connie was preceded in her home-going by her parents Juanita and Leonard Simmons, and dear nephews Erik Adrien Hailey and Christopher David Simmons. She leaves to cherish her memory her son, Laurence Hicks (Talesha), and grandchildren Sehvin, Lauryn, and Sivann. One brother, Gregory Lane Simmons; sisters: Jacqueline Angela Hailey (Herman), Deborah Inez Garcia (Daniel), Rosemary Elizabeth Kearney (David), and Cynthia Iris Simmons; nieces and nephews: Damien Hailey, Israel Simmons, David Kearney, Jr., Konavis Smith (Brittany), Ahmad Crofton, Alegna Hailey (Matthew), Annette Simmons, Shanika Perry, Dustin Kearney (Tomeca), Darien Kearney (Brooke), and Dahnaelle Crofton; special loves, great nephews and great nieces Rachell and Queenie, Ja’Nyla, Christiana, Ameris, Serena, Gina, Nathanael, Melodi, Christian, Ahmayah, Bailey, Isabella, Deklen, Ireland, Ashtyn, and a host of cousins, and dear friends.