Orenthal James (OJ) Hicks, 57, of Forest City, NC, passed away on June 8, 2026 at Rutherford Regional Medical Center.

He was born on December 19, 1968 to the late Donald Ray Hicks and Naomi Cumberlander Hicks in Kannapolis, NC.

Orenthal was a 1987 graduate of Crest High School. He attended Youngs Grove Baptist Church. He was saved, baptized, and knew the Lord.

OJ love to make everyone he met smile. He loved seeing the joy a smile would bring to others. He worked in automotive and textile industry for nineteen years. He had a great work ethic and enjoyed bringing smiles to his fellow peers. He was loved and will be missed by those he cherished most, his family and friends.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by maternal grandparents, RB and Willie Mae Cumberlander; and mother in law, Nellie Mae Shears.

He leaves precious memories to his daughter Keyonia Zhane Hicks; brother Ray Hicks; nieces Makayla Hicks, Kristiana Hicks, Mydia Jeter, and Kadejah Jeter; nephews, Christian Hicks and Mark Choice; ex-wife, Kenya Hicks; sister in law, Eugenia Wilson; and a host of uncles, aunts, and other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, June 16 at 1:00 p.m. at S.T. Enloe Memorial Chapel. Burial was at Young's Grove Baptist Church Cemetery.