Alberta Reams

Racine – Alberta Reams, age 95, passed away on Friday, September 4, 2009 at her home surrounded by her family. She was affectionately called by many names. To extended family members and friends she was known as “Big Ma”, “Big Mamma”, “Mamma Reams”, “Mother Reams”, “Aunt Alberta”, “Miss Alberta”, “Bert”, “Sis”, and “Baby Girl”. Alberta was born July 20, 1914, in Halls, TN the daughter of the late Mack Hicks, Sr. and Lula (nee: Thompson) Hicks. She was united in marriage to Odell Reams on October 18, 1931 in Alamo, TN.

Alberta and Odell Reams became disenchanted with farming and relocated to Racine in 1952. Her beloved husband preceded her in death on April 17, 1990. Alberta was baptized at Johnson’s Grove Baptist Church at an early age. She transferred her membership in good standing to the St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church in Racine where Rev. J. B. Bailey was the pastor. Alberta was a faithful servant of the church. She was an active member of the Deaconess Board; Pastor’s Aid Club; Voices of St. Paul Choir; Missionary Society; Women’s Fellowship; Mercy House; and Mothers Board until her health began to fail. Even when she was unable to attend services she continued to tithe. Alberta was employed by Racine Dry Goods for more than a decade and retired from Racine County High Ridge Nursing Home in 1978. Her joy was her children and the six generations that followed. She enjoyed cooking. She perfected her culinary skills baking cakes and pies on a wood-burning stove. She possessed a positive disposition and overwhelming generosity. She did not let anyone go hungry. Her motto was “There is always room for one more at the table.”

Alberta is survived by nine remaining children: Odis (Earna Ester) of Chicago; Eleanor (Willie) Forte’, Jodie Sr. (Idelle), Shirley (the late Thomas Edward) Dawkins, Sr., Mae Carolyn Reams, and Brandy (Jeffrey) Gandy, all of Racine, Althea (the late Jim) Winters, of Milwaukee, Lula (Mbili) Reams, of Atlanta, GA, Charles (Jackie) of Taylor, SC; her brother, Melvin (Dean) Hicks of Brownsville, TN; sisters-in-law, Norma Rae Hicks of Jacksonville, FL, Ella Wee Hicks of St. Louis, MO; brother-in-law Lonzie Lewis, Sr. of Bells, TN. She is further survived by 33 grandchildren; 51 great-grandchildren, 16 great-great grandchildren, and one great-great-great grandchild, and a host of nieces and nephews. Alberta will be sadly missed by the entire Hicks/Reams family. Big Ma will be immensely missed by her children, her in-laws, her grandchildren, as well as, her nieces and nephews, countless cousins, and life-long friends, who all feel blessed to have known and loved her. In addition to her beloved husband and parents, Alberta was preceded in death by her step-mother Kate Luna (nee: Schillcutt) Hicks; her son Ardell Reams, Sr.; her brothers, LeRoy Hicks, Robert Hicks, Burnice Hicks, Mack Hicks, Jr.; sisters, LaVerne Hicks Lewis, Dorothy Hicks, Larce Marie Hicks Ward, Luna Mae Hicks Cole; sister-in-law, Florence Koonce Hicks; granddaughters, Erica Reams, Rosalia Marie Mitchell, Debra Antoinette Reams; grandsons, David Robinson, and George Curtis Mitchell, II; sons-in-law George Curtis Mitchell, Sr., Jim Winters, Thomas Edwards Dawkins, Sr.; daughters-in-law, Shirley Ruth (nee: Martin) Reams, Floretta (nee: Ladd) Gaines, Annie Bea (nee: Lewis) Reams.

Friends and relatives are invited to attend the wake in the funeral home on Thursday, September 10, 2009 from 6-8pm. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday September 11, 2009 at St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church, 1120 Grand Avenue, with Bishop Lawrence L. Kirby officiating. Burial will follow at Graceland Cemetery.

The Reams family would like to extend very special heartfelt thanks to the compassionate staff of Wheaton Franciscan’s All Saints medical staff for the exceptional care provided.