JoAnn Hicks Alston

JoAnn “Bunny” Hicks Alston was born to the late James Nathaniel Hicks and Alberata Crump Hicks Bridgeford on September 27, 1942. She departed this life on January 29, 2023, at Wake Medical Center, Raleigh, North Carolina.

Bunny received her elementary and high school education in the Wake County Public School System. Bunny followed in the footsteps of her loving mother and practiced Cosmetology as her occupation. She found that she loved styling hair. She even won first place in Sherrill’s Cosmetology College Hair Styling Contest using her sister, Shirley, as her model.

Bunny was born and raised in Saint Matthew African Episcopal Church and joined the church at a very early age where she served faithfully until her death. She enjoyed singing and with her melodious voice, she spent all her life singing God’s praises and lifting the name of Jesus. While she sang in all the choirs, she has been a member of the Senior choir since she was a youth.

Bunny was married to Leon Howard Alston on July 4, 1964, and remained happily married for 36 years until his death, on January 8, 2001. Bunny leaves to cherish her memory, her daughter Carla Massenburg, Raleigh, NC; four sisters, Shirley Elaine Hicks, Janet Elizabeth Hicks, Daisy Yvonne Hicks, all of Raleigh, NC, and Jacquelyn Anzella Alston (Nelson), Knightdale, NC; three granddaughters, one great-granddaughter, one niece, two nephews, her Saint Matthew A.M.E. Church family, and a host of relatives and friends.

Her Celebration of Life service will be held at 11:30 AM, Friday, February 3, 2023 at St. Matthew AME Church, 1629 Bennett Street, Raleigh, NC 27604. Prior to the service a visitation will be held beginning at 11:00 AM.  A Public Viewing scheduled for Thursday February 2 from 2:00 PM -5 :00 PM at Haywood Funeral Home, 2415 S. Wilmington Street, Raleigh, NC, 27603. The Interment will follow the service at Mount Hope Cemetery, 120 Prospect Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27603.

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