From protests to parties, the Rev. William “Chico” Higgins Jr. has had a life filled with history-making stories to share as he becomes a nonagenarian.
A longtime resident of Surprise, the Chicago native is ready to party. He looks forward to his 90th birthday celebration set for Saturday afternoon, Oct. 25, in one of the ballrooms at The Grand where he has resided for more than 20 years. Higgins is a regular party-goer at The Grand Connections’ biannual events held on site for all interested in gathering for fellowship, food and fun, mixed with history teachings shared amongst Black and African American residents.
While his birthday party is no surprise to him, he was surprised this year to discover he was a father at 89 all over again. Thanks to Ancestry.com, and a “youthful period of partying” while on leave from the National Guard as a young man when he met the mother of Cherise Irving in Cassopolis, Michigan.
