FLORENCE, SC (WBTW) – Family, friends, and colleagues came together for a home-going ceremony to honor a South Florence High School coach killed earlier this week and those closest to her wanted to make sure that part of her life lives on.
Hundreds of people attended the ceremony Saturday to offer their condolences and sympathy to the family of the 38 year-old mother and coach.
But South Florence High School wasn’t Ms. Hickson’s only home away from home, in fact she also served as director at the Lake City Fitness Center in Lake City.
A group of Hickson’s co-workers were at the ceremony to show support for a woman they call family.
“She was there every day, five days a week and then she would leave from there and then come out here to South Florence and work with the kids there, so she was very connected to the whole entire Pee Dee community,” said Hickson’s co-worker Earnest Graham,
But this time around Graham and six others traveled to come pay their respects to a woman who impacted many.
“She would always push me and make do things I thought I couldn’t do. She wasn’t only my boss, but like my best friend,” Marlon Brown said.
“The thing I remember most about her is that every little slogan and every text that she sent she would always end it with…it’s all good, it’s all God,” mentioned Graham.
Hickson was a best friend that others admired having around too.
“The members loved her literally to death. I mean she was a person that inspired everybody to be the best person they could be,” added Brown.
The Lake City Fitness Center is working to form the Wanetta Michelle Hickson Studio in her honor.
The center is also putting together a college savings plan for Hickson’s 8 year-old daughter Aniyah.
The South Florence Class of 1996 set up a memorial fund for Hickson as well. You may go to https://www.gofundme.com/MichelleHickson and make your donations.
