Funeral services for Mary Jewell Hickerson will be celebrated at noon, June
28, 2011 at the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church of Leesville. Her remains will lie in state at the church from 10 a.m.-noon; and burial will follow in the Leesville Garden of Memories Cemetery.
Mrs. Mary Jewell Miller Hickerson was born May
14, 1940 in Shreveport, to the parentage of the late Mr. Isaac Miller and Mrs. Cornelia Dunn Miller as one of five children which blessed this marital union.
Her education during the formative years was secured at the hands of dedicated
teachers and administrators in the Vernon Parish public school system. She distinguished herself as a scholarly student by earning the coveted rank of Salutatorian in the 1958 graduating class of Vernon Parish Training School. This academician of
note continued her education at Grambling State University where she was awarded the Bachelor’s Degree. As a lifelong educator, Mrs. Hickerson chose to do further academic study at McNeese University.
Mrs. Hickerson met and married Mr.
Shelton Hickerson, Sr. at Grambling State University. They became united in holy matrimony August 16, 1961. This couple became the proud parents of four children.
Her spiritual journey on this earth was of great importance in her life. She
was baptized at the tender age of 10 and united with the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church of Leesville where she remained a faithful member until she exchanged time for eternity June 21, 2011 in the Byrd Regional Hospital. As a young Christian, Mrs.
Hickerson sang in the choir, worked in the Baptist Training Union, Sunday school and the Red Circle (Young Girls’ Missionary Society). She extended her horizons as a child to become the pianist for the Sunday school. During her young adult period of
life she co-directed the Red Circle Girls and became a member of the Young Adult Matrons. She was a member of the Sunday school class #6 and president of the Women’s Missionary Union at the time of her death.
Preceding her in death were
her parents and three brothers, Isaac Miller, Jr., Buford Miller and Emmett Miller, Sr. (surviving wife, Ora).
Mrs. Hickerson retired from the Vernon Parish School System as a teacher/librarian with an exemplary tenure of 34 and half years
of effective service to boys and girls. She gave life to the moral, cultural and religious values instilled in her by her parents. She followed their directed advice to work and to be industrious and felt as if their “fireside training” served as a
springboard for her life’s work. Her mother reminded her throughout the years that with God all things are possible, and without Him nothing is possible. She was constantly reminded of her mother saying, “If a task is once begun, never leave it until
it is done; be a labor large or small, do it well or not at all.”
Mrs. Hickerson governed her daily existence on a few favorite activities such as visiting the sick and shut-in, traveling to surprise others, and constant prayer and praise.
Her Bible verse was I Thessalonians 5:28; her song was “Make My Life a Living Sacrifice,” and her motto was “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” She was a blessing to her church family and to all who knew her.
Left to
cherish her beautiful memory are her husband of nearly 50 years, Mr. Shelton Hickerson, Sr., four children, Shelton Hickerson, Jr. (Tejuana) of Silver Spring, Md., Shelby P. Hickerson of Leesville, Sharon Thurman (Jeremiah) of Indianapolis, Ind., and
Staci Hickerson of Leesville; one sister, Carrie Miller of Leesville; eight grandchildren; four great grandchildren, the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church family; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.