Harry Wicks Sr.

HARRY WICKS, SR. was born April 10, 1944 in Crawford, Mississippi to the late Wright and Viola (Thomas) Wicks. He believed in the Lord and confessed a hope in Christ at an early age and was baptized. At the age of 10, Harry and his 8-year-old sister Annie came to Illinois to live with his oldest sister, Rosie Lee Lawrence and family. He loved and admired her so much for being a mother and sister to him and taking good care of him. Harry graduated from Central High School in Clifton, Illinois in 1964. He was a class officer during his junior year and participated in Industrial Arts all four years of high school where he also played football and basketball and ran track. Harry joined the U.S. Army on June 7, 1965 and did active service until May 19, 1967. After serving for 22 months in Germany, he received an Honorable Discharge. Upon his completion of several more years in the Reserves, he was decorated with the National Defense Service Medal on June 6, 1971. Once he was back home from the military, Harry would often stop by to see his “Mom” Rosie Lee. He didn’t broadcast his generosity, but quietly slipped into her hand “a piece of change” each time he saw her. Harry worked at General Foods for 30 years and later was employed at Shapiro Developmental Center in Kankakee. He will be most remembered for being kind-hearted, helpful, and always walking around with a newspaper in his back pocket. He could always be seen picking up every piece of paper on the ground in his neighborhood and yours. He enjoyed spending time with his three oldest sisters talking and joking, eating, watching TV – particularly sports and horse races- and he loved talking to people. Harry Wicks leaves to cherish his memory, his spouse, Theresa; seven daughters, Dwanda Faye (Thomas) Waltower and Annie Dell Madison, both of Minnesota, Debbie Richardson of Texas, Beverly Ann Madison and Brenda Ann Madison, both of Illinois, Betty Jo (Terell) Wicks of Wisconsin and Lekisha Young of North Carolina; one son, Henry Lee Madison of Illinois; two sisters, Carrie Baptist of Illinois and Annie Kyles of Mississippi; daughter-in-law, Valerie Miller-Walker; 25 grandchildren; a host of great grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Those now joyfully celebrating his arrival in Heaven are his parents; his son, Harry Wicks Jr.; two sisters, Rosie Lee Lawrence and Lillie Lou Ba

Tributes

Harry Wicks Sr.

April 10, 1944 - October 28, 2024