Catherine Ann Hicks Black

Catherine Ann Hicks (“Kitty”) Black, age 97, of Vestavia Hills, formerly of Chelsea, passed away Friday, May 25, 2012. Born in Luzerne, Pennsylvania, she graduated from Luzerne High School in 1932, and married Robert Lee Black, Jr., of Birmingham in 1938. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ira Ward Hicks and Isadore LeGrand Johnson Hicks, her husband, her brothers, John and Howard Hicks, and sister, Margaret Jarvis. As a young woman, she worked for the Resettlement Bureau and Hawkins Publishing Company in Washington, DC, and later worked at Birmingham Publishing Company and Pizitz Department Store. After her husband’s death, she took up painting as a hobby, and became an accomplished artist, displaying her works at various shows in central Alabama. She also enjoyed traveling, needlework, and fishing. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Montevallo Chapter, and was a member of Southminster Presbyterian Church. She is survived by her children, Robert Lee Black III, M.D. (Mary), Marilyn Jackson (Miles), and Catherine Galloway (Mike), two grandchildren, Jeffrey Black (Jennifer) and David Black (Michelle), four great-grandchildren, and special nephew, David Finnen. Visitation will be held Tuesday, May 29, at 9 AM at Ridout’s Valley Chapel in Homewood. Graveside service will follow at 11 AM at Forest Hill Cemetery, Dr. Joe Slane officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Southminster Presbyterian Church.