Janell Schoate-Hicks

October 2, 1933 - December 14, 2020

Janell Schoate-Hicks was born on October 2, 1933, the first of five siblings to the late Levi Schoate and Beulah Morris-Schoate. She was born and raised in a loving Christian home. She was the proud mother of one beloved and devoted son, Ivan D. Armstrong who is a successful business man. She was baptized in May, 1950 at Wards Chapel African Methodist Church in McAlester, Oklahoma. At a very young age her parents instilled in her the importance of higher education and believed that being educated was the only option for achieving success and prosperity for African-Americans. With this information, she acquired a passion for life long learning and completed her elementary education in McAlester, graduating from L’Overture high school. Shortly thereafter, she relocated to San Mateo, California to join her sister, but later settled in Palo Alto where she totally immerged herself in her studies until she received her Bachelor of Art degree in Health Sciences and a Masters of Public Health degree from San Jose State University in San Jose, California. She received her school nurse credential from the University of San Francisco, San Francisco, California. Janell was the Health Educator and registered nurse for the Ravenswood City School District in East Palo, California, where she was employed for 22 years. She was the recipient of many awards and recognitions from her school district, the California State Board of Education, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors Kent award, California Legislature Assembly, Congress of the United States, United States House of Representatives, and many local awards for her outstanding work and commitment to disadvantaged children and communities In 1986, she married Rannie L. Hicks, a man of great faith and love from Waco, Texas with whom she shared her life for 34 years. She also shared a warm and caring friendship with his two children, Felicia Hicks-Bradford and Phillip Hicks. She and Rannie enjoyed traveling and for many years traveled throughout the United States and abroad, including the Caribbean, West and South Africa, Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, China, Israel, Egypt, Australia, the Far East, as well as countries throughout Europe. She was a faithful member of the Palma Ceia Baptist Church in Hayward, California where she served until called home. She loved her church and actively participated in many ministries and activities. She also was a wonderful friend to all who knew her. Janell was a member of Beta Pi Sigma sorority, Inc., Sigma Chapter, the National Council of Negro Women, the NAACP, and other charitable organizations. Jan, as she was fondly called was predeceased by her parents and three sisters (Francis Lucinda Tan-Brown, Marie Louise Tan- Furgerson and Ruth Helen Tan- Dorsey) and one brother (Elmer Clinton Tan). She leaves to cherish her memory her husband (Rannie Hicks), and his two children (Phillip and Felicia), her son (Ivan Armstrong Jr.), three wonderful grandsons (Jason, Justin, and Jarrad), and four sister (Vernell Darline Schoate-Wright, Elizabeth Schoate-Voldase, Joyce Lee Schoate, and Thelma Schoate-culclager), and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.