Mornett Gregory

Born in Hope, Arkansas on July 11, 1939, Mornett Hicks-Gregory lived a productive, prosperous and blessed life. Born to David Hicks and Revia Jones, both land owners, Mornett’s father was a military man and railroad worker and her mother was a homemaker. Her mother, however, died at a young age. Her father later remarried Margaret Drew-Hicks and relocated his family to Kansas City, Missouri, where they together reared, loved and cared for Mornett and her three brothers. Mornett attended R.T. Coles Jr. High School and later attended Lincoln High School. After her sophomore year at Lincoln, Mornett moved on to become part of the first group of black students to integrate Central High School. After graduating from Central in 1958, Mornett decided that success was her only option. She began a career as a full time unit clerk at Menorah Hospital, while maintaining her role as a wife and a mother, all while attending the prestigious Eileen Jefferson Beauty Academy. This was one of only 10 black owned beauty colleges in America. Mornett took business classes at Penn Valley Community College after being mentored by none other than Eileen Jefferson, as she was inspired to be a very successful cosmetologist and business woman. During an era where many black women had jobs that didn’t require for them to wear makeup or have their hair professionally groomed, Mornett brought nothing less than class, culture and professionalism to an already booming industry. Mornett became a business woman, owning and operating her own salon for over 30 years. In addition to the many roles she acquired, she also was a top sales and marketing representative for Revlon, Beauty School Instructor, a vocational instructor for the Kansas City School District, as well as a Missouri State Health Inspector. Mornett was also the Chairwoman of the Associated Hairdressers and Cosmetologists of Missouri Inc., Founder and President of the Beauty Bazaar, which was chartered through the National Beauty Culturalists League. Around 1969, Mornett became a member of The Young Progressors, a group of young black award winning beauty industry professionals. They were known as the “Clean Up Crew” having the reputation for taking home most if not all of the awards. Mornett was very well traveled, often boarding planes every other week, for leisure but mostly for work. From New York to California, the Caribbean and Latin America. Her community service endeavors were countless. Whether she was volunteering at Immacolata with her daughter Tammy, or working with others in the community with disabilities, her efforts never went unnoticed. She was a proud member of her community, owning properties on Benton Blvd. as well as Paseo. Mornett was preceded in death by her mother, father, adopted mother and brothers Harold Hicks, Det. James Hicks and Lt. Det. Earl David Hicks. Mornett leaves behind her two daughters Robin R. Rhinehardt (Kansas City) and Tamara Y. Gregory (Liberty), three grandchildren, Tenaya M. Rhinehardt, Stephen J. Thomas and Jamil V. Rhinehardt; three great grandchildren Stephen J.J. Thomas, Stephen J. Thomas and Alaysia J. Thomas, two nephews Earl David Maples and Earl David Hicks, and a host of other close cousins, relatives and friends.  Visitation will be 9:30AM, service at 10:30AM, Thursday, July 23 at Park Lawn Funeral Home, 8251 Hillcrest Rd.; burial in Mt. Moriah Cemetery.

Visitation will be 9:30AM, service at 10:30AM, Thursday, July 23 at Park Lawn Funeral Home, 8251 Hillcrest Rd.; burial in Mt. Moriah Cemetery.