Leona Michelle Hicks

Leona Michelle Brown Hicks, affectionally known as “Michelle,” gained her wings to be with the Lord

on Friday, June 28, 2024, at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, New Jersey. Michelle

was born August 2, 1957, to the late Arthur Blakely and Vashti Pettiford Brown in Cranford, New Jersey.

She was preceded in death by her sister, Brenda Eileen Pittman.

Michelle was educated in the Union County, New Jersey school system; graduating in 1975 from Cranford

High School. She furthered her education at Union County Community College, majoring in Business

Administration.

Michelle grew up attending the family church, St. Mark African Methodist Episcopal Church on High

Street in Cranford, New Jersey, where she accepted Christ as her Savior.

Michelle started her work career in various administrative positions. In the early 1980’s, she was employed

with Statistical Research, Inc. Her career began to blossom with her employment with American Delivery

Service, a family owned and operated business. She continued her career with Premier Graphics, which

afforded her the opportunity to polish her talents to become a transportation supervisor with Allied

Transportation, retiring in 2009 due to health reasons.

Michelle overcame many health challenges during her lifetime; being an 11-year kidney transplant

survivor and a recent cancer survivor.

Michelle loved to travel at a young age with her family to Jamaica and other Caribbean Islands. She loved

going to the beach and spending time in Atlantic City with her husband.

On November 1, 2003, Michelle married her long-term partner, Elwood Hicks, in a destination wedding

in Aruba. They celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary last year.

Michelle loved her family and friends so much. She enjoyed the good old days when the family gathered on

the 4th of July at their home on High Street in Cranford, New Jersey. She loved going to her Uncle Sammy’s

and Grandma Pettiford’s house for New Year’s Day, who lived next door to her. She also enjoyed going to

Aunt Shirley and Uncle Stanley’s, who always had an annual Labor Day celebration. Let’s not forget the

annual Pig Roast the Saturday after Labor Day at Wilson and Margaret Allen’s home in Summit, New

Jersey. The Pettiford family reunions began in Plymouth, North Carolina, where her family is from. She

attended the last time on Juneteenth in 2023, where it was a western theme, held at the home of Lauren

Pettiford Carter in Long Island, New York. Thanksgiving at her mother-in-law’s home, Dorothy Hicks,

was always a feast... She loved her sweet potato pies.

Michelle leaves to cherish her fond and loving memory; her husband, Elwood “Woody;” brother, Arthur

“Buddy” Brown; sister, Robin Slater (Jerome); nieces, Leslie Pittman, Toni Bennerman, and Chalena

Morten; nephews, Anthony Pittman, Jr., Michael Pittman, John Blakley Brown, and Rodger Thompson;

godsister, Linda Dorsey Agudosi; goddaughter, Adrienne Agudosi; godsons, Troy Cromwell and Terry

Pettiford; sister-in-law, Patricia Thompson; and a host of other relatives and friends.

~~ Sweet by thy rest. We loved you dearly, but God knows best. ~~

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