Helen Hicks

“To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven” Ecclesiastes 3:1

A Time To Be Born . . .

Helen Reese was born on March 13, 1939, in Richland County, SC, to the late Wallace and Eliza (Goodwin) Reese. She was the first born of their 11 children.

A Time To Plant . . .

She received her early education in the Richland County School System, graduating from Webber High School in Eastover, SC.

She learned to sew as a very young girl. She and her sister, Margaret would wash, dye, cut, and sew flour sacks to make curtains.

Helen moved to Elizabeth, NJ, in 1956, after being encouraged by her mother to move North for more opportunities for growth. She lived with her Uncle Jerry & Aunt Marie, and their family. Now a northerner, she started working as a seamstress in the textile industry. Sewing was both her passion and her gift and she did that for many years.

A Time To Build Up . . .

In 1957, Helen met young airman, Benjamin Caesar Hicks. He was home on leave from his duty station in Yuma, Arizona. Their marriage could have been considered somewhat of an arranged marriage since his sister, Miriam and his mother, Flory Hicks had conversations about introducing them when he came home. After a four-year courtship, Ben & Helen were married on October 28, 1961, at Second Macedonia Baptist Church in Elizabeth, NJ. To this union two sons were born, Benjamin “Michael” and Gregory Evan. Ben served as a trustee and Helen served on the nurse’s board at Second Macedonia for many years.

Helen enjoyed traveling, cooking, caring for others, and of course quilting and sewing. After Michael was born Helen worked from home sewing for family, friends, and churches in the community. She never went back into the workplace and Gregory was born four years later.

The Hicks Family moved to Bethlehem, PA in 1984 but still traveled to New Jersey weekly for church and many other day to day activities.

Ben and Helen started visiting Faith Fellowship Ministries World Outreach Center (FFM - then in Edison, NJ), now Epic Church International in Sayreville, NJ with his sister, Gloria in 1987. They became members in November 1990 and Deacons in January 2000. Helen sought growth in the things of God and graduated from the Christian Training Program in March 1992. She worked in the FaithLife Church Bookstore for more than 20 years. She also sowed many of the liturgical dancers costumes for FFM.

A Time To Sow . . .

If you knew Helen, you knew how much she loved her sons and how proud she was of their accomplishments and lifestyles. Family warmed her heart and family gatherings were joyful, fulfilling times for her. Her nieces and nephews all have special memories and stories that they can share about time spent with their Aunt Helen. Neighbors and friends have wonderful reflections and sentiments of how she has touched their lives. She has left an impression on countless people whose paths she crossed and a sewn garment in the hands of scores of others. In the past nine short years she also managed to pack a lifetime of love into the heart of one special little boy, her grandson, Jacob.

A Time Of Reward . . .

Helen peacefully transitioned from the labor of this life to eternal reward on Monday, April 25, 2022, at home, after a brief illness.

A Time To Weep . . .

Preceding her in death are her parents, Wallace and Eliza Reese, one sister, Mary Price, and one brother, Thomas Reese.

A Time To Mourn . . .

We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and that God will bring to Him those who sleep in Jesus yet still there are those that are left behind to mourn her passing, carry on her legacy, and cherish her memory. Trusting Almighty God until He calls us all home are her husband, Benjamin C. Hicks of Bethlehem, PA; two sons, Benjamin M. (Teresa) Hicks of South Amboy, NJ, and Gregory E. Hicks of Newark, DE; one grandson, Jacob M. Hicks of South Amboy, NJ. Eight siblings, Margaret (Jason) Rucker of Anderson, SC; Sara Reese Barber of Gadsden, SC; Wallace, Jr. (Ernestine) Reese, Robert (Joanne) Reese, and Tony (Sonja) Reese – all of Eastover, SC; Jackie (Cynthia Magno) Reese of Las Vegas, NV; Linda Reese, and Jenkins Reese both of Eastover, SC. Three sisters in law, Mary Morrison, and Miriam West both of Plainfield, NJ, and, Gloria Bishop of Huntsville, AL. One brother-in-law, Carl Hicks of Plainfield, NJ. A host of nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family, spiritual children, and friends.

Matthew 25:21  . . . ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

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