Shirley Mae McKenney Hicks

Shirley Mae McKenney Hicks was born in Moncure, NC on March 7, 1935. Shirley was the daughter of the late Beatrice Laura (Hooker) Newton and the late Augustus Huggins of South Carolina. She transitioned into eternal rest at her home in Waldorf, MD on July 4, 2023. Shirley spent most of her early childhood with her great-grandparents. As a teen-ager, she eventually moved to Washington, DC to live with her mother and step-father, Karl McKenney. Shirley graduated from Cardozo High School (Frances L. Cardozo) in 1953. While waiting for spot to join the Air Force, Shirley went to Indiana to work for the Federal Government. She entered the Air Force in 1954 and served 6 years until her discharge in 1961. Shirley met her ex-husband, the late Coleman Hicks, while stationed in Germany. She was on Ramstein AFB and he was on Landstuhl Army Base, although he was Air Force. They were married in Germany in 1959. Shirley is a Korean War Era Veteran. In 1965 Shirley entered civilian government service starting at the United States Information Agency, which then changed to the International Communications Agency in 1978, then changed back to USIA in 1982. The agency eventually folded into the Department of State in 1999. Shirley retired from full time Federal Government service in 1984. She was smart and worked very hard. Shirley steadily got promotions until she was made supervisor of her division. She worked off and on for the government until 2000. She stopped to help raise her grandson. Shirley did volunteer work for her church, Christ United Methodist Church, in Aquasco, MD. She volunteered on the Outreach Committee. She was devoted to serving the church and the community. Shirley kept serving until her health failed and she couldn’t drive anymore. The members of the outreach committee continue to invite her to events. Shirley was very passionate about her work on the committee. Shirley was known as a taskmaster or mentor at home or work depending on if you were a daughter, you got the taskmaster. But there were many times she had so much love for all of us, she would let up every now and then. Shirley had a lot of “children”. There are those who considered her their “mother”. There are a few who needed a mother’s love and hugs. To some of these “children” she was known as “Shorty”. To a couple of these people, even for a short amount of time, she was the mother that loved and cared for them when their mothers didn’t. Shirley Mae Hicks leaves cherished and precious memories for her daughter, Colette M. Moussavi and grandson Christian D.H. Beiler and her “son” Kenneth M. Brown (all of Waldorf); her very close cousins, Brenda Horton (Charles) of Clinton, MD and Marilyn Hill (North Carolina), Robin E. Nettles (WDC). Her best friend from childhood and for life, Cozetta Nettles (Augustus – another cousin), Adrienne Brown (Bernard) – a new “daughter” who contributed so much time towards my mother’s care; a friend or two from her time in the military, so many people she’s worked with and for. And last, but not least, Dustin, her Baby Dog. It took a while for him to grow on her, but she loves him just as much as she loves us. “Yes” in the present tense: Love does not die when someone dies. She is predeceased by her daughter, Alicia C. Hicks and her mother Beatrice L. Newton. And her ex-husband of 42 years, Coleman Hicks. Her Aunt, the late Mildred Hill (they were more like sisters) and her uncle, the late James Hill. Family and Friends will be received on Monday, July 31, 2023 from 10AM-11AM at Raymond Funeral Service, 5635 Washington Ave, La Plata, MD 20646 where a Service will be held at 11:00 AM. Interment will follow at Cheltenham Veterans Cemetery 11301 Crain Highway Cheltenham, MD 20623.

Shirley Mae McKenney Hicks

March 7, 1935 - July 4, 2023