Dietra was born in Biloxi Mississippi on November 6, 1963, at historical Biloxi Memorial Hospital to Dennis Ray, Sr. and Etta Hicks. Her dad moved the family to East Oakland, California when she was three years old alongside her siblings. She attended Brookfield Elementary, Madison Junior High, and in 1981 graduated from Castlemont High School with a 3.0 GPA. Dietra was a “widow twice in one life” In November 1983-January 5, 1984 to Jimmie Rideout – (child Delitha Henson, mother-in-law Martha (Bob) Thornton) and August 11, 1990-August 23, 2020 to Eric Rowland-King – (children Eriesha Holmes, Eric King, Derek King).

Dietra was a resident of Antioch, California for over 30 years with her late husband Eric King, where the remainder of her life was lived. She attended and visited several congregations in Antioch and throughout California. During her adult life, she worked for the Internal Revenue Services, Naval Supply Center, VA/HUD Real Estate Loan Department, real estate agent for CJ Patterson Red Carpet Realty, Oakley Morning Star Real Estate Properties and the family-owned Dad’s BBQ Restaurant.

In 2005, she became co-owner/partner and manager of Dad’s BBQ and in 2006 obtained her real estate Broker License.  She launched and opened her entrepreneurial real estate agency, called Hearts Realty. Her motto was “Heart to Heart, Home to Home,” and the home sale yardage sign was in the shape of a heart. From 2006-2008, Hearts Realty was growing and flourishing financially. Since Dietra’s businesses were being blessed, she wanted to give back the blessings by depositing a percentage of all home sales into an account funded for those in need and her 10 agents. Dietra educated and provided families the opportunity to own their own home and making sure her children owned a home before she departed which was a goal for her that was accomplished, even during her illness and fighting days. In 2008, the housing market collapsed, which caused millions of people to lose their jobs and many businesses went bankrupt but God Sustained Heart’s Realty and even during the 2020-2021 pandemic Dad’s BBQ was blessed to continue servicing their community. For the past several years, Dietra was a mentor to real estate agents, while training the family’s next generation to work and manage Dads BBQ. Dietra enjoyed traveling, reading, listening to gospel music, going to gospel and comedy concerts, hosting family and community gatherings. Over the past several years, Dietra was working on a book writing as a self-published author, her unique life’s memoir; to be released in the future. 

Dietra Letitia Hicks-King departed her earthly life peacefully the early morning of January 7, 2024, at the age of 60, in the home of her daughter, Eriesha (De’Andre) Holmes and grandchildren. She was surrounded and supported by her loving family and hospice support during the last days of her life.

Dietra touched and supported so many lives throughout her short, yet very memorable and special life’s journey. According to man, she is gone too soon; but it was God’s will that she departs from all those who loved and spent time with her. Dietra was ready to be offered, and the time of her departure was at hand. She fought a good fight, finishing her course for God’s purpose and glory, leaving a legacy.

Dietra was a Christian and her life lived was close to her Lord and Savior. Keeping the faith, being steadfast on her morals and values during her journey in life, confirmed that her goal was to live a life to please her Lord.  Dietra’s life offered quality and quantity time for all those she touched. There are no goodbyes, because to have had the opportunity to enjoy the fellowship with Dietra and all the special memories will never be gone but live in our hearts and minds forever.

Dietra was preceded in death by her late husband Eric King, Sr.

Dietra is survived by her parents – Dennis and Etta Hicks, mother-in-law Clarice King, her children – Delitha (Van) Henson, Eriesha (De’Andre) Holmes, Eric King, Derek King, five grandchildren that called her “GrandD,” Jimmie’, Gizelle, D’Andre’, Dezmond, and Nyoko, and Godchildren – Deandrea Johnson and Dominic Woods. Her brothers – Dennis Ray, Jr., Cedric (Nina) Hicks, sisters – LaMonica (Ronnie) Samuel, and Amelia Hicks.

“Auntie” Dietra created a home where a host of her nephews and nieces spent quality time, had lots of fun, spreading contagious laughs and lifetime memories. A host of brother/sister in-laws, cousins and surviving aunts and uncles. Dietra’s “heart to heart and home to home” open door gathering environment for family, friends, employees and colleagues was to spur one another on toward love and good deeds, by encouraging and inspiring one another. Her one-of-a-kind sense of humor, realness and sincerity will be cherished forever in our hearts and minds.     

Dietra, rest in peace with eternal life and may an angels’ chorus greet you in heaven. Your footsteps can never be filled, nor your love ever forgotten, because a spiritual journey doesn’t end with death. You were the cornerstone in so many lives, beautiful melody in the rhythm of our lives and the music of your life will live on. Your life well lived and spent; a powerful work of art. Beautifully created and remembered by all who loved and knew you. The hours and minutes tick by slowly, and it’s finally time to say goodbye to no more of your beautiful smile, hugs and moments on this side of eternity; yet the beautiful memories bring comfort from the disbelief/heartache. You will be so dearly missed!

“The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.” -Psalm 29:11

“Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, on my soul.  I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.” – Psalms 146:1-2

“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” – 1Thessalonians 5:18

Viewing – Dans Scales Funeral Services
107 W. 8th Street, Pittsburg, CA 94565
Friday, February 2, 2024
4pm-6pm

Funeral – Solomon Temple Ministries
655 California Avenue, Pittsburg, CA 94565
Saturday February 3, 2024 at 11am 

Watch Dietra’s service via livestream on YouTube.

If you would like to send flowers please send them to Solomon Temple Ministries Saturday morning by 10am Thank you!

Repast to follow!

Near Sycamore Square

By Lt. Rick Martin, Antioch Police Investigations Bureau

The Antioch Police Department needs your assistance identifying this individual who is a person of interest related to a recent shooting on January 3, 2024, at 8:37 p.m. in the 1000 block of Sycamore Drive near the Sycamore Square shopping center.

If you have any information that could identify this individual or his whereabouts, please contact Detective Duffy at 925-779-6884 or aduffy@antiochca.gov.

Arrested July 2, 2023, following police chase from Concord to Hercules and back to Bay Point

Has history of arrests dating to 2014

By Ted Asregadoo, PIO, Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office

A jury in Contra Costa County convicted an Antioch man on offenses related to a high-speed chase in a stolen vehicle and illegal firearm possession.

The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office filed a complaint in Superior Court charging 33-year-old Artis Chavez Crenshaw, Jr. (born 2/28/90), on July 6, 2023. The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Philip Farmer, and on January 18th, a jury in Pittsburg found Crenshaw guilty on four out of five counts. (See charges)

The offenses with which Crenshaw was charged with started on July 1st, when a victim’s vehicle was stolen in Antioch. On July 2nd, peace officers spotted Crenshaw driving the stolen vehicle in

Concord and attempted to pull him over. A high-speed chase ensued between police and Crenshaw that began on Port Chicago Highway near Highway 4. The pursuit continued onto westbound Highway 4 as Crenshaw accelerated to 115 mph while weaving through traffic. Even after the CHP laid down a spike strip at Sycamore Avenue near Hercules to disable the vehicle,

Crenshaw continued to evade officers by driving with a flattened tire onto eastbound Highway 4. He was eventually involved in a crash at the San Marco Boulevard exit in Bay Point and was taken into custody after the collision. The entire pursuit totaled 23 miles and lasted 16 minutes.

During his arrest, officers found an AR style pistol in the stolen vehicle. (See video)

Artis Chavez Crenshaw, Jr.’s sentencing hearing will be on March 1st at 8:30 am in front of Judge John Cope at the Arnason Justice Center in Pittsburg. Crenshaw faces a maximum of four years and four months in state prison.

According to localcrimenews.com, Crenshaw has a history of arrests dating to 2014 by Antioch PD, Napa County Sheriff’s Department, Petaluma PD, Concord PD and the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department for crimes including shoplifting, addict and convicted felon in possession of a firearm and other gun and ammunition charges, burglary, grand theft, assault with a deadly weapon likely to cause great bodily harm on a peace officer or fireman, receiving or concealing stolen property, possession of personal identity with intent to defraud, robbery and carrying a switch blade.

According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Department, the 6-foot, five-inch, 205 lb. Crenshaw is being held in the Martinez Detention Facility on no bail and his next court appearance is scheduled for March 1, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. in Superior Court in Pittsburg.

Case No. 04-23-01211 | The People of the State of California v. Artis Chavez Crenshaw, Jr.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.