Ida Hicks

Life Reflections
Ida Hicks was born to the parentage of the late Lonzo (L.H.) and Armanda Holland Hicks on March 3, 1926 in Kilgore, Texas. She was the first born and only daughter. Her brothers Chadolius (Chad), Lavoisier (Doc or Butch), and Arbria preceded her in death.
She accepted her faith in her early years, starting her instruction at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church of Kilgore and ending at First Presbyterian Church of Longview, Texas.
Idas educational journey began at North Chapel Schools in the Liberty City (Hoghead) addition of Kilgore and culminated with her graduating in 1939 as valedictorian of her class. Graduating at the age of 14 resulted in her being the youngest member of the Big Six, a bonding of classmates that has lasted through the many decades. Her collegiate journey began at Bishop College in Marshall, Texas and continued at Howard University in Washington D.C. WWII broke out and she left Washington D.C. for Los Angeles where her diminutive size made her a good candidate for the war craft industry. Later she attended UCLA extension where she completed her accounting certification.
Although the seed of the importance of civil rights for all began in her home with her parents, with overnight guests such as George Washington Carver and Oscar Micheaux, it was further instilled in her while residing with her college house parents, activists William and Mattie Pickens. During the time she was at UCLA, she worked with the Los Angeles Chapter of the Elks Club that forever connected her with the Democratic Party, continuing her work through the Urban League of Pasadena. She served as her area coordinator for the Helen Gahagan Douglas Senate Campaign, the first woman California Democrat elected to House of Representatives. Additionally, she regularly spoke about working alongside of Ronald Reagan when he belonged to the party and co-chairing the Los Angeles committee to elect Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman elected to the United States Congress, in her bid as the first woman to run for presidential nomination.
During this period, she bore and raised three girls, nicknamed Ricci, Fluffy, and Muffy (the almost but not quite twins). She was most proud of their independence and that they all completed various degrees of their education.
Later in life, Ida returned to East Texas to care for her father. Almost immediately, she became active in local politics: the NAACP, Legal Aid, and Politics in Action. She joined First Presbyterian Church where she served as a deacon, session member, and trustee, traveling all around the United States and even having personal conversations with Vice-President Hubert Humphrey and Mrs. Sam Walton.
Always known as a fashionista, she epitomized the ability to mix old and new. There is not a mall or resale store in three states (Texas, Nevada, and California) that she has not visited, some knowing her personally. This passion led her to open the Elegant Flea her own personal resale store.

She returned to her beloved Los Angeles in the early 90s. Looking for a Los Angeles church affiliation, she visited Angeles Mesa Presbyterian Church, the church home of her dear friend, Marie Flenoury, the godmother of her first grandchild and her sister in the Vernon Crest Golf Club in the 60s. She joined the Sunday School and was instrumental in its revitalization and also the re-establishment of The Ed McKinley Adult Sunday School. After her daughters retirement and her subsequent relocation to Texas, the Adult class continued to include her in the lessons by telephone.
A lady of varied interest, she also joined the Los Angeles Chapter of Jazz Friends. She loved jazz, only missing a few sessions of the Central Avenue Jazz Festival where she always got a front seat, and was a regular at the Leimert Park Blues and Jazz concerts.
Why we called her Ida.
First of all, it was her name. We dont know about other Idas, but in the case of Ida Hicks, Ida was an acronym for I Demand Attention and if you have not heard her say that, then you did not know IDA. Acquaintances use to ask us why we called our mother Ida. Friends knew.
Ida will be remembered by all who knew her with love and a knowing
smile. She leaves to cherish her memories: daughters Ricci Jones-Alford
(Willie) of Las Vegas, NV, RoChelle Ceballos (Edmund) of Kilgore, TX and
Nancy Johnson of Los Angeles, CA; three grandsons - Christopher
Ceballos (Kimberly), Cedric Ceballos (Sheryl), and Lallan Smith (Sebena);
ten great grandchildren Nianna Decatur, Joshua Ceballos, Tyler Smith,
Cydnee Ceballos, Jordan Ceballos, Kamara Smith, Codee Ceballos, Miles
Ceballos, Kendal Smith, and Chance Ceballos; one special sister Juanita
Greer Rigsby of Fort Worth, TX; special cousin, Ester Johnson of
Longview, TX; special daughters, Dolores (Sissy) Shelton of Kilgore, TX
and the entire Dantzler family, Daisey, LaWanda and Kaya of Los Angeles, CA; longtime road buddies, Marie Glover of Longview, TX and Tammy Jackson of Los Angeles, CA; special children from another mother, Don Collins of Kilgore, TX, Robert Hudgins of Hardy, VA, Robert Earl Clayborn of Kilgore, TX, and Angelita (Lita) Herron of Los Angeles, CA; the Best Cousins ever, Reverend Willie B. Hicks (MaryAnn) of Fort Worth, TX, Nzingza Owolo of Sacramento, CA and Dr. Nzinga Owolo-Graham of Valley Vista, CA.