Thelma L. Hicks

Thelma Luberta Hicks, a beloved servant of God, born July 28, 1937, entered the Kingdom of Heaven on December 23, 2010.  She was the daughter of Arthur E. Sr., and Musetta I. Bias (Farmer) of Evansville, Indiana.

Thelma’s pride and joy was the teaching profession.  She received a B.S. degree in education from Tennessee State University where she met and then married Robert N. E. Hicks in 1959.  She taught elementary education in Elkhart, Indiana and Lansing, Michigan and continued to teach voluntarily after her retirement.

Thelma was a member of Our Savior Lutheran Church where she used her teaching ministry to help spread her faith in God.  She was an accomplished pianist with lifelong interests in the arts, dance, nature and wildlife. She was an avid supporter of the Michigan State Basketball programs, the Tom Izzo Sparrow Health Classic, and the Lansing Community College Nursing Program.

She was preceded in death by her parents Arthur E. Sr., and Musetta I. Bias (Farmer); father-in-law, Bernice E. Hicks; mother-in-law, Norma Ray Hicks (Midgett); brother and wife, Arthur Bias Jr., and Bessie M. Bias; sister-in-law, Delores Midgett; uncles, Robert, Leroy, and Melvin Hicks; aunts, Rebecca Green (Midgett) and husband Nathaniel Green, Myra J. Arterbridge (Midgett), Geneva King (Midgett); and nephews, Trent and James Bias.

Thelma is survived by her loving and devoted husband Robert N. E. Hicks of 51 years of marriage; her children, Derrick N. Hicks, and Belinda N. (David) Kammeraad (Hicks); brother, Alfred (Doris) Bias; brothers-in-law, Charles (Sandra) Hicks, John (Mary) Hicks, Michael (Bernetta) Hicks, James B. (Mary) King, Solomon, James, and Willie Lee (Shirley) Midgett;  sister-in-law, Evelyn Halliburton (Dupree); nephews, Leslie (Eugenia) Bias, Alan (Lucie) Bias, Wayne (Rose) Bias, Charles Jr., (Connie) Hicks, Timothy (Rhonda) Hicks, and Michael-Mickey Hicks; nieces, Deidre Bias, Kimberly (William) Lewis, and Millicent Hicks; loving grandchildren, Christopher and Laurie Kammeraad; special in-law, Gonda Kammeraad; and a host of grandnieces and nephews.

The funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 30, 2010 at Our Savior Lutheran Church, 7910 St. Joe Highway, Lansing with Pastor Roy C. Olsen, III officiating.  The family will receive friends at the church on Thursday from 10:00 a.m. until service time.  Memorial contributions may be made to Our Savior Lutheran Church and School or the Sparrow Hospital Family Foundation for Lung Cancer.