Mrs. Erma Jean Hickman-Pratt

Erma Jean Houston was born on March 30, 1927, to the union of Benjamin Houston and Callie Mae Houston in Dekalb, Mississippi. Erma accepted Christ as her Savior at a very young age. She attended Spring Hill Missionary Baptist Church. She was married in Dekalb in 1942, to Willie Elijah Hickman. Their union was blessed with three children. Erma Jean relocated to Louisville, Mississippi in 1948. In April 1948, she gave birth to her second son, Willie James Hickman. Erma relocated to St. Louis, Missouri in 1960, with her best friend, Pearl. They attended nursing school together, where she met and fell in love with Jerry Pratt. They married on April 19, 1965 and relocated to Chicago, lliionis in June of that year. She attended Christian Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago. She held various jobs such as: a maid, housewife, and worked at Church's Chicken for several years. Erma had a great gift to share with the world; her love for children. She had a big heart and a generous spirit that will live on. If Erma saw children in need, she didn't hesitate to care and love them as her very own. She was overjoyed to give children a place where they called home, and a person they called mother. Erma Jean was small in stature with a big personality. She was way ahead of her time with a feminist mindset. Our grandmother was a strong, phenomenal, virtuous, black woman who wore so many hats. She was a wife, mother, father, mentor, minister, cook, maid, babysitter, confidant, independent, and a motivator. Erma wore them all with humility. She had many hobbies, such as crocheting, baking, and doing jigsaw crossword puzzles. Her favorite television shows were: Jerry Springer, Maury Povich, and General Hospital. For thrifty years she volunteered at Sister's Miller (Golden Rule) and won Volunteer of the Year Award for six straight years. "Little Lovely" had a soft spot in her heart for animals. Her only dog was named Bitsy, she also had two rabbits named Midnight and Nigga. She also had a bird named Pipsie named after her favorite soda Pepsi. Granny nightly scriptures were Psalms 23 and John 14. Her favorite gospel song was Toiling, by Inez Andrews. She loved listening to her favorite Blues song, St. James Infirmary. She would always say, "This world don't owe me nothing, I lived my life to the fullest." Erma departed this life on June 21, 2020, she was proceeded in death by her parents, Benjamin Houston and Callie Houston; siblings, Ethel Grady, Ruby Rush, Rosezener Steele, Rosie Donald, Lois Hickman, Alex Houston, Callie Walker, R.C. Houston, Leon Brown, Fannie Bell Metts, Irma Ruth Greer-Tate, Bennie Lee Houston; two stepchildren, Anthony Pratt and Elizabeth Pratt, two grandchildren, Doris Triplett and Theo Hickman; and one great grandchild, Jamel Hill. She is survived by her children, Cleotris Hickman (Ann) of Milwaukee, WI, Rosie Helen Triplett (Jim) of Milwaukee, WI, Willie (Willie Dub) Jean Fredricks of Milwaukee, WI and Willie James (Sandra) Hickman of Milwaukee, WI; siblings, Obie Dan (Vonner Lee) Houston of Louisville, MS and Earnest (Shirley) Houston of Chicago, IL; two children she raised as her own, Princess "Tell': Phillips (J.P' Phillis) of Atlanta, GA and April Metts of Milwaukee, WI; grandchildren, Kim Hickman of Milwaukee, WI, Theo Hickman's children of Milwaukee, WI, Ruthie "Polly" (J.B.) Hill of Milwaukee, WI, Anne Mae "Sister" Hickman of Milwaukee, WI, Elder Bobby (Subrina) Triplett of Milwaukee, WI, Tammie "Melissa" Triplett of Atlanta, GA, Willie "Barn" Hickman of Gary, IN, Ronnie Triplett of Milwaukee, WI, Latoya Fredricks of Atlanta, GA, Cartessia "Nikki" (Gerald) Seaborn of Birmingham, AL, Tymeka Fredricks of Atlanta, GA, Cory Hickman of Chicago, IL, Trecia (Ameer) Hickman-Triplett of Milwaukee, WI, Twanna (Jon) Gilliard of San Antonio, TX, Shaundra (Ken) Lee of Milwaukee, WI, Teresa Miller of Atlanta, GA, Shaneka Pratt of Milwaukee, WI, Tyrone Pratt of Milwaukee, WI, Tranell Metts of Milwaukee, WI, Sanomi Walker of Atlanta, GA and J-Niyah Phillips of Atlanta, GA; great-grandchildren, Darnell, Glen, Kimberli, De'Jane, Corey, Nathaniel, Johnny, Janeen, Marsey, Teffney, Ventris, Heidi, Cynia, Marquetta, Promise, Kayla, Kaniajha, Kalil, Jim, Seanissa, Stacy, Courtland, LaQuon, Tia, Annise, Quisean, Quentin, Ayala, Aja, Marques, Sacrissa, Brianna, Christian, Kiante, Alexis, Kailynn, Brooklynn; and host of great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, family, and friends.

Mrs. Erma Jean Hickman-Pratt

March 30, 1927 - June 21, 2020