Shirley B W Hicks

Shirley Browning Woodruff Hicks, born February 4th 1933, passed away on December 28th 2021, in Alton Illinois. She will be cremated and interred at Saint John Catholic Church Columbarium in Westminster Maryland.

Shirley was the beloved daughter of Barton Collins and Lois Browning Woodruff. Adopted and brought home in a wicker basket on a steamer ship, she was raised on the Panama Canal Zone. She began piano studies at age four and her teachers included the composer and conductor, Herbert de Castro. After graduating from Balboa High School, Class of 1950, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music degree from Western Maryland College (McDaniel College). After attending Florida State University for graduate studies in piano performance, Shirley raised four children, Thomas, Susan, Jeannine and Lois. In 1977, at age 44, she returned to Florida State University to complete her M.M. in piano performance (1980) and an additional M.M. in chamber music and piano accompanying (1986). While at Florida State, she performed for countless student and faculty recitals, mentoring many instrumentalists and vocalists, especially with her expertise in vocal diction. Shirley was particularly proud of performing with trombone professor William Cramer and premiering compositions by Czech composers, to include Jiří Laburda. She served as staff/faculty at Cameron University, teaching and mentoring many music students. Upon returning to Tallahassee, she retired from Florida State University in 2003. Shirley was also an active and much loved church musician, serving as organist, pianist, choir director and music director at many parishes in Ohio, Virginia, Florida and Oklahoma. She lived at St. Clare’s Villa in Alton, Il from 2012-2020 and had many friends who became like family. Shirley is preceded in death by her parents and her daughter Susan Smith and her son Thomas Parker. She is survived by her loving daughters Jeannine Bretz, (John) of Alton, Il and Lois Hicks-Wozniak, (Matthew) of Cornwall, NY. She has ten grandchildren: Jennifer, David, Patrick, Tina, Tommy, Hannah, Zoe, Ericha, Sam and Josh; and ten great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church capital campaign, Alton, Illinois or the Saints Peter and Paul helping hands.