Dorothy Irma Hicks, age 96, of Dayton, Ohio was born in Franklin Georgia to Pastor Joseph Dunson and Bessie Dunson on March 27, 1928. She accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized in Franklin, Georgia. Later in life she relocated to Dayton, Ohio.  On August 8, 1946, they were united in marriage, and this marriage lasted for 69 years until her husband (Deacon Hicks) passed away September 15, 2015. To this union, four children were born: Nathaniel, Jr., Wandlyn, Rosalinda, and Marcia. Mother Hicks was one of 14 children who went home to be with the Lord on Friday, September 13, 2024, surrounded by her family and close friends.

Mother Hicks united with the Mount Enon Missionary Baptist Church in 1949 under the leadership of the late Pastor Joel L. Mundy, serving diligently over the years in many capacities to include: Member and Assistant Superintendent of the Sunday School Department, Advisor for the Annabelle Howard Mission, Deacons Wives Ministry, a staunch member of the Baptist Training Union and the Prayer Band Ministry.

Mother Hicks was preceded in death by her parents, Pastor Joseph Dunson, and Bessie Dunson, Brothers, Albert Dunson, Pastor Edward Dunson, Cornell Dunson, and Joseph Dunson. Sisters: Louise Bing, Annie Woods, Josephine Long, Gladys Allen, and Vivian Walker. Daughters: Marcia K. Cooper, and Rosalinda Hicks.                                                                                                                                      

Mother Hicks leaves to cherish her memories, a son, Nathaniel Hicks, Jr. (Marian) of Kansas City, Missouri; daughter: Wandlyn D. Handy, of Dayton, Ohio, a Brother Pastor Walter Dunson (Doris) of Dayton and two Sisters:  Helen Phillips, Raleigh, North Carolina, and Jackie Dunson of Richmond, IN.  Sisters-in-law: Joyce Patricia Coleman, Gloria Dunson, Marjorie Hicks, and Debra Hicks all of Dayton, Ohio, and Carlene Dunson and Doris Wyatt of Carrolton, Georgia,

Grandchildren, Alisia J. Harris (Eric), Mina Humphrey (Brian), Jacques Cooper (Lachelle), Natalie Hicks; great­grandchildren, Wandlyn (Michael) Robinson, Donisha Taylor, Donald Wayne Taylor, II, Brian Humphrey, Jr., Langston Humphrey, Kennedy Cooper, Harper Humphrey, Wolf Cooper, and great-great-grandchildren, Dre'lyn Robinson, Maddon Green, Major Robinson, Ava Taylor, and Aneisha Mack.

After moving to Dayton, Mother Hicks tried working at various jobs and ended up quitting because she never had to take orders from anyone.  It was once said that the head chef at a restaurant asked her to cut onions and she told him that she did not cut onions because they made her cry. It was said that her husband realized that Mother Hicks was not cut out for these types of jobs, and he told her to just stay home and we will start a family. Mother Hicks said teaching jobs in Dayton for African Americans was almost impossible in the early 1950’s. 

Mother Hicks started teaching Sunday School and she also joined the choir. When her baby brother, Pastor Walter Dunson, became the founder and Pastor of Mt. Nebo Baptist Church in Dayton, the family united at her brother’s church. After eight years, they knew it was time to return to Mt. Enon. Mother Hicks resumed teaching Sunday School at Mt. Enon for the next 27 years and she became the Director of the Baptist Training Unit (BTU) for over 32-years along with Dr Browning.

Mother Hicks has lived through many changes and accomplishments in Black History. She remembers that as a race of people we had to endure being called colored, negroes, Afro-Americans, blacks, and now African Americans. Mother Hicks said she also remembers signs that said:  Colored Restrooms Only, Water Fountains for Colored, only being able to attend movie theaters by going upstairs, she said there was no eating in restaurants, and we did not have the right to vote.