Nelma Joyce Hicks

When Nelma Joyce died on April 20, 2015, we lost a jewel, a rock, a free-spirit, a spit-fire personality, a presence. Throughout her sixty plus years on this earth, Nelma was many things to many people; and yet her core values of faithfulness, friendship and love remained constant. Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth; . . . they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them. Revelation 14:13 An Obedient Daughter who was preceded in death by her mother Mary Katherine Overton Johnson and her father Shelby Raymond Johnson, Sr., Nelma Joyce Johnson was born on July 12, 1954 in Houston, Texas. Her parents cherished her and in turn she honored them. She traveled with them, cooked with and for them, shopped, played and worshipped with them. This was the child who resided closest to her parents until their deaths; providing care, attention, love and support throughout their final years. And now, she has joined them in Heaven. Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you. Exodus 20:12 A Devoted Sister to four brothers -- Shelby R. Johnson, Jr. (Norlan), Marvin Johnson, Maurice Johnson (Robert Angello) and her birth date twin Carlton Johnson (7/12/1956) as well as three sisters Clara Lumpkin (Nathaniel), Alberta Johnson Mayberry, and Mary Beth Kirksey (David) -- NJ was the sixth of eight siblings. She repre-sented the oldest of the last three "The Three Little Ones." She watched her older siblings head off to college, military service and marriage while she remained Houston-based, keeping the home fires burning. Her siblings' children, her five nieces and eleven nephews, loved going "home" to Houston and hanging out at Aunt Nelma's house. Nelma was always diligent in her emotional support of all of her siblings, their spouses, and their children right up to the time of her death We have a little sister, and she has not yet reached maturity. Songs of Solomon 8:8 A Faithful Christian from an early age, Nelma professed her belief in Jesus Christ, was raised up in the Macedonia Baptist Church in Fair-banks, Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church, and Canaan Missionary Baptist Church on Lockwood Drive (where she was baptized). Through her teen years she was a faithful member of Sunday School, Baptist Training Un-ion and the Junior Usher Board. As a young adult, she united with the Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church. She loved and served diligently on the Fami-ly Connections Group 5, contributing to and serving the meals after funeral services for WABC members. Many members at Wheeler will remember Nel-ma for the years of service to her father, bringing him to and attending the 7:15AM worship service, Sunday School and the Wednesday Noon Bible Study sessions with him. Do not be conformed to this world, but continuously be transformed by the renewing of your minds so that you may be able to determine what God's will iswhat is proper, pleasing, and perfect. Roman 12:2 A Kashmere Ram and a graduate of the "New" Kash-mere High School, Nelma was a proud and productive product of the Houston Independent School District. While she was an elementary school student, her parents fought the good fight to gain access for her (and her younger siblings) to the best schools in her community. She was a named party in a legal battle, albeit unsuccessful, to desegregate Kashmere Gardens Elementary in Houston. While in high school, Nel-ma was a member of the Tennis Team and the National Honor Socie-ty. Nelma successfully completed her studies and graduated with Honors in 1972. She presented her Diploma to her mother saying; "This is for you!!" Her high school education served her well in the work world and in life, continuing the learning process as an avid reader, traveler and a "News Junkie." Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverb 22:6 A dedicated and dependable US Postal Worker was the career path that NJ chose. She conscientiously served in this profession for more than 40 years. She worked in numerous positions at various locations around the greater Houston vicinity including the Fairbanks Substation and the Bush Intercontinental Air-port. The lasting friendships that Nelma made during her tenure as a postal worker are evidence of her industriousness and her amicable personality in the work place. She successfully retired from the USPS in 2010. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom. Ecclesiastics 9:10 Being "The Good Wife" of Harry Alvin Hicks, Sr. for more than 37 years was a crowning achievement for Mrs. Nelma Joyce Johnson Hicks. When "Harry met Nelma" at the downtown Houston Post Office, they were just friends. After a friendship of more than five years and an engagement of only two months, they entered the state of Holy Matrimony on February 20, 1978. That same day, Harry took Nelma to a vacant lot that he purchased in the subdivision where they built their house, and developed their family's home. Mr. and Mrs. Hicks remained together, committed to each other, in sickness and in health, and in love until death did them part. Whoever finds a wife finds what is good, and receives favor from the LORD. Proverbs 18:22 A Proud Mother of one daughter, Heather Autumn Hicks Ar-nold and two sons, Harry Hicks, Jr. (Sarah) and Herschel Hicks all of Houston; Nelma was beloved by her children. She also embraced Harry, Sr.'s first daughter, Ebony Hicks, as her own. She reared her children to be industrious, independent, loving, honest, non-judgmental and family/community-oriented in a culturally diverse and multi-racial society. Nel-ma and her kids were avid sports fans. She was a die-hard Rockets, As-tros, Oilers, and Texans fan. She also enjoyed watching Tiger Woods and the Williams sisters, and taught the next generation how to play tennis. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her. Proverb 31:28 A Devoted Grandmother of four beautiful grandbabies, Nelma was the typ-ical loving, doting, bragging, giving, for-giving Grandma memorialized in the song "Grandma's Hand." Her first grandchild and only grandson, Stevie Fucile (Heather's son) was her sole pride and joy for 11 years, and he named her Nana'! Then along came the granddaughters!! Audrina Hicks (Herschel's first daughter) aka "Drina" held Nelmaand Harry's -- hearts in her tiny little hands from the day she was born. Then just over a year ago in 2014, she was doubly blessed with the arrival of Helaina Hicks (Herschel's sec-ond daughter) and Brooklynn Hicks (Harry, Jr. and Sarah's baby girl). Nelma's love quadrupled!! I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your Grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. 2Timothy 1:5 As a Community Volunteer, Nelma received training to provide loving care for newborn and premature babies as a young adult. She worked with the athletic programs and the PTA in the Cypress Fairbanks Schools. She supported and par-ticipated in the many and various charitable activities and dona-tion drives sponsored by the USPS. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. Roman 12:7 Using her skills as a Soul Food Chef, Nelma shared her knowhow as well as the results of her patience and expertise in the kitchen. Her culinary talents were renown in her immediate and extended families. She shared her love of cooking with family, friends and church mem-bers. Her best loved dishes -her chopped garden salad, her potato salad, her ever so tender greens (a mixture of collards and mustards), anything pork, and barbecue (she was a Pit Master), as well as her traditional Cor-nish Hens for Thanksgiving ("so that each person had their own bird") -- were known for their great flavors as well as for the generosity she demonstrated in sharing them. So I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of the life God has given him under the sun. Ecclesiastes 8:15 A Friend to the end, Nelma was genuinely adored by so many individuals on her job, in the community, at the churches she attended, at her children's schools, in her bowling leagues, in our extended family in Louisiana, and in Langston, Oklaho-ma, where she and Harry visited frequently. A man that has friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24 A true believer in the Christian ethos, Nelma's death is not the end. Life is changed not taken away. "Nelma's" Journey Has Just Begun Don't think of Nelma as gone away her journey's just begun, life holds so many facets this earth is only one. Just think of Nelma Joyce as resting from the sorrows and the tears in a place of warmth and comfort where there are no days and years. Think how NJ must be wishing that we could know today how nothing but our sadness can really pass away. And think of Nelma as living in the hearts of those she touched ... for nothing loved is ever lost and Nelma was loved so much. Ellen Brenneman, Her Journey's Just Begun' Acknowledgements and Special Thanks What a wonderful God we havehe is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the source of every mer-cy, and the one who so wonderfully comforts and strengthens us in our hardships and trials. And why does he do this? So that when others are troubled, needing our sympathy and encouragement, we can pass on to them this same help and comfort God has given us. -- From the Living Bible, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 The Family of Nelma Hicks sincerely thanks each and every individual who offered and provided care, comfort, encouragement and assistance in words, deeds, visits, gifts, flowers, food, your expertise, your prayers and your presence. May God continue to richly bless each of you.