Thelma Hicks-Bridges

HICKS-BRIDGES, Mrs. Thelma - Age 72, member of the Mighty Banks Sisters, passed away Friday, December 9, 2011 at Hurley Medical Center. Mrs. Hicks-Bridges will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., on Thursday, December 15, 2011 and may be viewed from 12Noon-8 p.m. Thursday, with Homegoing Celebration from 5-7 p.m. Mrs. Hicks-Bridges will then be taken to Alford's Mortuary, 1222 Napier St., South Bend, IN 46601, (574) 282-2477. Family hour 11AM Saturday, December 17, 2011 at Faith Apostolic Ministries, 909 Bendix Dr., South Bend, IN, 46628, with funeral service commencing at 12noon. Mrs. Thelma Hicks-Bridges was born March 3, 1939 in Augusta, Georgia, to the union of the late Pastor Willie and Carrie (Frazier) Warren. She was the 2nd of 10 children born from this union. Pastor and Sister Warren loved Gospel music and they passed that love on to their children, forming the family group the Warrenetts of Buchanan, Michigan. After Thelma’s father bought an old piano and placed it in the basement of the family home; she taught herself how to play it. Thelma’s love for Gospel music never wined. As an adult she continued to sing God’s praise and for many years, she was the Lead Guitar Player and one of the Lead Singers for the Eveready Gospel Singers of South Bend, IN. In 1980, she along with her daughter, Sarah, formed the Heaven and Earth Gospel Singers, together they traveled all over the country, continuing to sing and give glory to God. In 1995, she married Pastor Jewell Bridges and moved to Flint, MI. She was the First Lady, Church Organist and Choir Director for the Pleasant Love Missionary Baptist Church. Also while in Flint, she joined the Mighty Banks Sisters and became one of the Lead Singers for them. Two CD’s were produced while she was with them, “Glory Hallelujah” and “Fight On” Just as her parents had done, Thelma taught her children to love Christ, family and singing. Mrs. Thelma Hicks-Bridges leaves behind to cherish her memory: husband, Pastor Jewel Bridges of Flint; son, Selma (Cathy) Turnipseed of Portland, Maine; 7 daughters, Sarah (Rev. Edward) Brown, Darlene Gray, Min. Willard Aleta Turnipseed, Gloria Stuckey and Mia (Anthony) Carter, all of South Bend, IN, Asst. Pastor Willamae Turnipseed of Chicago, IL and Min. Cammie (Ben) Thompson of Indianapolis, IN; 20 grandchildren; 9 great grandchildren and great-great grandchild; 2 sisters, Verneatha Green and Ella Shelby; 4 brothers, Richard, Willie Sam, Jr. Jerry and Virven Warren; a host of other relatives and friends. Mrs. Bridges was preceded in death by her daughter, Amanda Tucker; son, Kiley Jaqul Craft; grandson, Matthew Lewis Owens; and parents, Pastor Willie and Carrie Warren.

Thelma Hicks-Bridges

March 3, 1939 - December 9, 2011