DAWSON - Mrs. Ethel M. Dawson, 96, passed away Tuesday, October 22, 2019. Funeral arrangement entrusted to "The Mortuary We Trust", HARRIS MORTUARY, 2261 Edison Avenue, Jacksonville, FL., 32204, (904) 598-9808, http://www.harrismortuary.com .

Life's Reflection
"To God Be All Glory and Praise"

Ethel Mae Hicks was the youngest of seven children born December 3, 1922, to Polly Harrington Hicks and Enous Hicks in Hazelhurst, Georgia. Her education was completed in Emanuel County, Georgia.

Ethel Mae Hicks (Ellis/Dawson) was blessed with seven children, Beecher, Robert, Barbara, Nancy,
Scottie, Dennis and Arrie Mae.    The family moved from Georgia to Florida in 1952. The family settled in Jacksonville Beach to live in 1954.

Ethel Mae was reared in a Christian home and joined St. Andrew AME Church after moving to "the beach". She became an usher, served on the Steward Board, Women's Missionary Society, as Church Secretary, Class Leader of Class No. 1, and was crowned "Miss Saint Andrew". Her devoted and loyal service to God, her church, family and friends spanned a period of over 60 years. She was honored as one of the Senior Saints at the 113th Anniversary of the church.

Her employment was as a teacher in Georgia, and as a domestic worker with longevity with the Helms and the Rockwell families.   She also worked as a custodian at San Pablo Elementary and First Baptist Church of Jax Beach.

Ethel enjoyed canning, quilting, gardening, traveling, spending time with relatives and extending hospitality for everyone to share a meal. Her organizations were the Progressive Pallbearers Grand Lodge #222 and the Relations Social Savings Club.

As her health began to decline, she had many doctor appointments, some hospital stays and shared time with her daughters Nancy and Barbara as her caregivers. Ethel made her transition from life to eternal rest on Tuesday, October 22, 2019 at Baptist Medical Center, Jacksonville.

She was preceded in death by her parents; all her siblings; husband, Deacon Lee Dawson, sons, Dennis Hicks, Beecher Ellis, Jr., grandson Ricky Lamar Jackson, grand-daughter, Monica Thomas and Daughter-in-Law, Vondera Brown.

Loving memories are cherished by her family; Children, Robert L. Ellis (Tiara), Barbara Jackson, Nancy Ford (Monroe), Scottie Brown and Arrie Mae Kennedy; 27(twenty-seven) grandchildren; 55 (Fifty-five) great-grandchildren; a host of great-great grandchildren; sister-in-law Almeter Phillips; several nieces and nephews, numerous cousins and many sorrowing friends.