Wendell R.H. Harper

Wendell Richard Hicks Harper ("Rick") was born on June 3, 1982, at Darnall Army Medical Center, Ft. Hood, TX (Killeen) to Wendell R. Harper and Terri L.H. Wanzer. On the afternoon of July 16, 2021, God saw fit to dispatch His angels to bring Rick home to rest from his labors and find eternal life in heaven.

Rick lived in West Germany as a young child and was educated in the Capital, Lake Forest, and Milford School Districts in Delaware and in the Harford County, Maryland School District where he graduated from Edgewood High School in 2000. In 2001, he completed certification as a computer technician at Tesst Technology Institute in Baltimore, MD, and later returned to college and received a bachelor's degree in Economics in 2015 from Morgan State University. He later went on to earn his Master's in Business Administration (MBA) from Delaware State University, Dover, DE. Rick was employed as a computer technician at Constellation Energy Corporation in Baltimore and he worked with youth as a resource officer and as a tutor for Baltimore City and Harford County Schools. He was employed by Advance Auto Parts at the time of his death.

Rick was a devoted father to his children and stepson and was a great family man! At any family gathering, you could expect Rick to ride up unexpectedly anywhere whether in Virginia, Maryland, Florida, or anywhere in between. Rick had a great sense of humor and he had a great laugh that would make you laugh because he was laughing. Rick was a deep thinker and thought big thoughts. Rick kept his own counsel. No matter what he may have been going through in his life, he did not talk about his problems… he would simply think them through and work them out on his own. Rick took great pride in being named after his father and his grandfather and lived in a way that he hoped emulated manhood that would make them proud that he carried their names. One of his supervisors at work once wrote that Rick was a young man with honesty, integrity, and great character. He stated that such traits could not be taught or bought. They were traits that were instilled and lived out in every aspect of life. Rick always tried to be an example that his brothers, his sisters, cousins, and friends could look up too and he always tried to live in such a way that would earn the respect of his elders. Rick was a protector to all those he held dear to his heart.

Rick is preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Florence and Stom Harper; his maternal grandparents, the Rev. Dr. Richard and Thelma Hicks. And he is preceded in death by his beloved sister, Shannon Nikkisha Harper ("Nikki").

To cherish his many precious memories, Rick leaves his children, Naze' Harper and Wendell Richard Hicks Harper II; stepson, Darius Stewart; his parents, Wendell Harper and Terri Wanzer; his bonus parents Sabre Harper and Jack Wanzerand the mother of his children and fiance', Victoria McCants. Left also to cherish his memories are his sisters, Tia Hicks Fitzgerald and Shawanda (Jerry) Harris-Shelton, brothers, Brandon Harper, Dominic Harper, and Jordan Harper. Nieces; Georgia Fitzgerald, Ze'yana Harper, Jasmine Shelton, Imani Tunstall, Jaylyn Shelton, and Alana Shelton. He is survived by aunts, Shirley Harper Hughes, Stephanie Hicks Willett, Georgia Hicks Brown, Marjorie Hicks, and Lisa (Troy) Tittle; uncles, Stom (Lona) Harper, Jr., Norman (Marilyn) Harper, Daryl Brown, his bonus grandmother, Adelaide Watlington, and adopted uncle, Marion "Butch" Sudler. Sister cousins, Tracy Brooks, Kelly Willett, and Keesha Tice. As well as great-aunts, a great-uncle, cousins, stepbrothers and sisters, step-grandmother and a host of other family and friends.

The Family requests that in lieu of flowers contributions be made for Rick's children:

Cash App: $terriwanzer
Zelle: 1-302-399-5146

Zoom Live Stream

Here is the link and meeting ID to the Live Stream video hosted on Zoom for the services of Mr. Wendell R.H. Harper.

Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89660551919
Meeting ID: 89660551919 Previous Events


Celebration of Memories


JUL 29. 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM (ET)

St. Paul United Methodist Church
300 North Street
Milford, DE 19963

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Viewing


JUL 30. 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM (ET)

Jesus Love Temple
106 S. Walnut Street
Milford, DE 19963

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Celebration of Life


JUL 30. 11:00 AM (ET)

Jesus Love Temple
106 S. Walnut Street
Milford, DE 19963

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Graveside Service


JUL 30 (ET)

Milford Community Cemetery
850 N. Dupont Blvd
Milford, DE 19963

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