Evelyn Hicks

Evelyn Marie Conner Hicks was  born  the  second  child to  the  parentage  of   Sergeant Joe Allen Conner and  Bertha  Mae Bennett at  St. Paul  Hospital  in  Dallas, Texas.  She was known in the family as “Baby Sister.” Evelyn accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized and married at Mt. Sinai Baptist Church.

Evelyn  and  her brother, James (aka  “Jackie”),  grew  up  in  Frazier  Courts (at  the  corner  of   Troy and  Hatcher Streets) in  East  Dallas.  She graduated from Pearl C. Anderson Junior High and   Lincoln High School (1969) in the Dallas Independent School District.   On  August  19,  1969,   Evelyn ,  driven  to  succeed,  attended  the  University  of  Houston;  and,   at  Freshman  Orientation,   she  met   Donald W. Hicks.  They  eventually  married   and   completed    college,  after  which  Evelyn  immediately  began  a  Masters  Program  at  Texas  Southern  University (Houston)  concentrating   in  education (early  childhood  development,  counseling   and   special  needs  children).  Evelyn began working as a marketing   agent for   Southwestern Bell Telephone Company in Houston, Texas (1974-1977).  Looking for a way to make a difference and be counted in life, Evelyn enrolled in  Thurgood  Marshall  School  of  Law  at  Texas  Southern  University (Houston), where she graduated in 1980 after having given birth to a son, Donald, II in 1978; and, after  going  into  labor  in  a  Labor Law final exam.  (She made the highest grade and   earned   an   Am Jur Award.)     While in law school, Evelyn was   a law clerk for   Gulf Oil Company in Houston until she graduated.  She   became a   Federal Civil  Rights  Attorney   in  the  Office  of  Civil  Rights  -  U.S. Department  of  Education  (Dallas, 1980 – 1987),  after  which  she  joined   Hill Hicks Collins,  Attorneys  at  Law  (Dallas)   which  dissolved  in  1990  at  which  time   she  joined  the  Law  Offices  of  Donald  W.  Hicks,  Sr.,  P.C.,  when  the  firm  began  to  capture   meaningful   clients,  e.g.,   Dallas  Independent  School   District    (terminations,  land  title  work,   special  needs  cases,  and author and  originator  of  the District’s adopted   MWBE   Program),   Texas  Education  Agency   (special  needs  hearing  officer),   Dallas  Central  Appraisal   District   (tax   valuation  /  exemption   defense),   FDIC / RTC   (bank and bank property  foreclosures  / receiverships),  Dallas  Area  Rapid  Transit.     She  left  the  firm  in  2009  and   began   working   for    Linebarger   Goggan   Blair  &  Sampson,  LLP  (tax  collection  for Dallas  County   taxing   units)  where  she  achieved  Income  Partner  status.     Evelyn   was  licensed  to  practice  in  the  all  Federal   and  State  of  Texas  courts   since   1980  and  was  a  licensed real estate salesperson since 1998.

Evelyn  was  known  well  in  the  political  circles  in  Dallas  County  and   ran  over  ten  (10)  local  races  and  assisted  in  other  races.     She  was  a  member  of  the  Dallas  Committee on  Urban  Affairs    (a  General  Purpose  Political  Committee.  She  served  on  the  boards   for:   the  City  of  Dallas’  Judicial  Nominating  Committee  and  City  Plan  Commission,  Southern   Dallas  Development  Corporation,   and  Dallas  Area  Rapid  Transit   (where  she  chaired  the  M/WBE  Committee).

Evelyn  was  very  involved  as  a  Silver Star Member  of  Omicron Mu Omega Chapter of  the  Alpha  Kappa  Alpha  Sorority,  Inc.  - (1972-2019). And was looking forward to be coming a golden Soror in 2022.Through the sorority, Evelyn was able to carry out her mission to serve the community through education, mentorship and outreach. She also had the opportunity to pin both her nieces with the sorority pin, as well as see her niece, Debbye, become a Silver Star this year , to further carry out her mission to help those in need.   She chaired   and  served  on  a  variety  of   AKA  committees   throughout  her  membership.  She  was  a  very  dedicated  and  loyal  AKA,   forever.

Evelyn   was   a   loving,  dedicated   and  devoted   wife,  mother,   grandmother,  aunt, cousin and  friend.    She   especially   loved   her   eleven   year   old   grandson,   Donald,   III   (“Trey”)   and    he   loves   her.    Other   loving   grandchildren   are    J’kory   Jon   Gibson   (27)   and    Brendan Joseph   Litton   (9)    (Texas    City).     She   was   also in constant   contact  with  and   loved dearly her   daughter (Shana   McNeil  Hicks  Randall) along with her nieces and great nieces ( Debbye Garner, Tamara Good, Camille Garner, Taylor Good and Taryn Good) A nephew (Thomathan Good II) who all affectionately called her Aunt Sis.    Evelyn   attended    Mt.  Sinai   Baptist   Church   as   a   little  girl,  got  married   there, and   remained with the Church  until  the  time  of  her  homegoing.

Left  to  cherish  her  memory  are:   James  Richard  Conner  (brother),  Brenda  Joyce  Stewart  Conner  (sister-in-law), Two half sisters Joe Alice Bender(Milwaukee),Clara New ( Milwaukee)  Donald  W.  Hicks,  Sr.  (husband),  Donald  II  (son),  Donald  III  (grandson),  Shana  McNeil  Hicks  Randal  (daughter),  J’kory  Jon  Gibson  and  Brendan  Joseph  Litton  (grandsons),  Debbye  L.  Conner Garner  and  Camille  Garner   (nieces),   Tamara  Conner  Good   (Thomathon)  (niece) ,   Thomaton,  Jr.  (nephew),   Taylor  and  Taryn  (twin  nieces)  and  Special  Friends:   Na’Cole   S.  May   (Eric  and  children),  Valerie  Hicks,  Mark  A.  Mosley,   and   a  host  of  other relatives,  coworkers   and   friends.