Mary Catherine Taylor Hicks

The beloved Mary Catherine Taylor Hicks peacefully departed this life on Saturday, April 24, 2021, in Brooklyn, New York at the age of 100.

Mary was born on October 17, 1920 in Selma, Alabama to (the late) Jesse Taylor and Julia Carey Taylor.  She was one of fourteen children.  In 1938, Mary migrated to New York City and worked as a nurse’s aide at Kings County Hospital, as a seamstress for thirty years, and as an Avon representative.  In 1950, she married James Isaac Hicks, and raised three children: Julia, Bernard, and Floyd.  One of Mary’s finest accomplishments was the purchase of her home in 1961.

In her free time, Mary went on cruises and took road trips to Atlantic City with family and her friends.  It was not unusual for Mary to travel with food or prepare family favorites for long road trips.  She was intentional about visiting family and attending milestone events such as graduations.  Mary loved spending time at family reunions. She enjoyed gardening, cooking, and hosting cookouts for her family and friends.  Mary also volunteered with AARP.  When she was not entertaining her loved ones, she would be up late watching her beloved New York Mets or catching up on the soap operas she recorded earlier in the day.

Mary was incredibly independent, and shared her stories and support of female independence with her granddaughters and nieces.  Mary -- mother, grandmother, and aunt -- will be remembered for her love, laughter, generosity, loyalty, kindness, hospitality.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Jesse and Julia, her husband James, her siblings, a daughter Julia, and son Floyd (Karen).  She is survived by her son Bernard (Lilly); grandchildren: Wallace, Carl, Vivian (Herman), Jeffery, Maurice, Charod, Aisha (Ephraim), Khary, Dayven, Noni, Jelani and Kenny; and a host of great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

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