Obituary of Barbara Ruth Hicks-Oliver

Barbara Ruth Hicks-Oliver, 94, was born on May 27, 1927 in Fair Haven, NJ to the late Edward Hicks and Mary Ella Wise-Hicks. She was the fourth of five children, predeceased by Joseph Hicks (Bernice, Vie), Eleanor Mancle (William), and Warren Hicks (Romaine). Surviving is a sister, Lorraine Fields (James). She was raised and educated in Red Bank, N.J., worked as a supervisor for Dan Electro, Inc. in Red Bank and Neptune for many years and also worked at Brockway Glass and Peerless Tube, both of Freehold. Barbara married James M. Acker (deceased) and had three children-James, Margo Smith (Glenn) deceased, and John (Gloria.) She married C. Ervin Oliver in 1972 until his passing November 25, 2011. Barbara joined Bethel A.M.E. Church, Freehold under Rev. Malcolm S. Steele in 1988 where she served on the Stewardess Board as Vice President in 2005, member of the Trustee Board, Historical Committee, Golden Age Club, Flower Club, and Kitchen Committee, and as church photographer. Barbara was appointed to the Freehold Borough Rental Property Advisory Committee in 2005 by Mayor Michael Wilson and the Borough of Freehold governing body. She loved to sew, knit, dance, and travel to Hawaii and the Bahamas often. She leaves three grandchildren, Crystal Aye (Charley), Glenn Smith (Stephanie), and John Scott Acker (Dennika); six great grandchildren, Aaron, Khalil, Scott, Ryan, Taylor, and Lyla-Rae; four nieces, Darlene Hicks-Jones, Kim Fields, Jean Oliver, and Ruth Scales; four nephews-Clifton Mancle, James Albert Fields, Emory Fields, and Lee B. Williams; her dear friends, Ann White, Dottie Wright, Earlene Anders, Joanna Parks, Corolyn Massey, Jacqueline Canada; and other family and friends. The viewing will be held at the Higgins Memorial Home, 20 Center Street, Freehold on Tuesday, May 10, 2022 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Funeral services will follow at 11:30 a.m. with Rev. Ronald L. Sparks officiating. The interment will be held at Monmouth Memorial Park, Tinton Falls.