Willie Mickens died Sept. 20 at the age of 90. He was born July 29, 1932 in Greensboro to the late Willie and Rosa Willis Mickens.
He confessed Christ at an early age and joined Mars Hill Missionary Baptist Church in Greensboro where he remained a member until his passing.
He attended Hale County Training School. After school, he joined the U.S. Army and served until he was honorably discharged. He returned to Greensboro and married his childhood sweetheart, the late Catherine Benison Mickens. To this union, eight children were born.
He was preceded in death by his parents; grandmother, Sarah Mickens, with whom he lived as a young boy; three children, Willie Pickens III, Dale Anthony Mickens, and Catherine Underwood; three siblings, Sarah Lawson, Levert Mickens, Sr., and Lewis David Mickens; two brothers-inlaw, Wash Jeffries and Holsey Pipkin; two sons-inlaw, David Hill Jr. and Michael W. Underwood, Sr.
Survivors include his children, Rosetta (David) Mickens Hill of Greensboro, Mildred (Alfred) Reed of Lilburn, Ga., Cameron (Angela) Mickens of Greensboro, Daisy Mickens of Lawrenceville, Ga., Hosea (See) Mickens of Tucker, Ga., Natalie (Kenny) Woods, Dinah Wallace, and James (Valerie) Hatcher, all of Bessemer; three honorary daughters, Joanne Bennett, Annie (Jimmy) Branch, and Vernita (Walter) Johnson, all of Demopolis; four sisters, Mildred Jeffries of Cleveland, Ruby Washington of Greensboro, Lenora Pipkin of Memphis, and Evelyn Seals; a brothers, Dr. McArthur (Faye) Mickens of West Bloomfield, Mich.; 20 grandchildren; 38 greatgrandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
