Official Obituary of
Jean Rhodes Ricks
December 19, 1937 ~ November 29, 2020 (age 82) 82 Years Old
Jean Ricks Obituary
Jean Ester Rhodes Ricks was born December 19, 1937. She was the first- born child of Ross Rhodes, Sr. and Ether Lee Martin Rhodes.
At a young age, she accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior at Eleven Grove Missionary Baptist Church, Oakland, Alabama. Jean Ricks was known for starting out as a musician playing the piano and organ for various churches in the Shoals area. She also taught piano lessons for many years within the community. Her love for hymns and for the spiritual songs of Dr. Watts, was exemplified in her ministry of music. She also played for the Springhill District Women's Choir. Jean Graduated from Burrell Slater High School in 1956. She met and married Buell Ricks January 24, 1960.
She worked with YWA, and Crusaders. She would take carloads of young girls and boys to Selma University for a weeklong Christian camp. Jean participated and worked with the State of Alabama Baptist Convention and with the National Baptist Convention USA. Her travels would start in June and go through September. She wanted to spread God's Word by making sure everyone was educated in the Bible's teachings. Jean was elected Dean of Springhill District Convention in 2000. She helped to start and run the Springhill Leadership School until 2005.
She worked for A.G. Gaston's Booker T. Washington Insurance Company for 14 years where she traveled and met many instrumental Leaders of the Civil Rights Movement. Jean assisted with the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's. She also worked with the PTA at W.C. Handy School. She was a Girl Scout Leader for ten years and Cub Scout Leader for six years. She strived to keep her children involved in various activities, sports and most importantly knowing who God is. She enjoyed sports and loved to watch her favorite teams which were the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Jean and her sister Virginia took piano lessons at an early age. They both went on to play for the church. Jean moved her membership with her husband Buell to First Baptist Church of Sheffield where she enjoyed the leadership and teachings of Pastor Braxton, and worked with the Womens Ministry, Missionary Society, and was a very avid participant of the Sunday School Ministry until her death.
Great memory of my sis Jean. From Rev. Owen Rhodes of Erie, Pennsylvania: Jean and Buell were instrumental in civil rights work. In the early 1960's she worked for A.G. Gaston Insurance Company and she needed someone to ride with her to Bessemer Alabama and Mama and Daddy voluntold me when I was in my teens. I had an honor of being introduced to Martin Luther King, Jr. and Ralph Abernathy. Because of my sister Jean introducing me to great Civil Rights Leaders, it helped me to become involved in outreach ministries in Erie, Pennsylvania.
Preceded in death by: Father: Ross Rhodes Sr, Mother: Ether Rhodes, husband: Buell Ricks, daughter:Louise Ricks, sister: Virginia Rhodes-Smith & brother: Ross Rhodes Jr.
She is Survived by her Children, Larceina S. Ricks Cordova Tn, Lyetta Fant( Felix) Jacksonville North Carolina, Leonard Ricks (Meia) Florence, Al, Lenore Scott (Robert) Florence, Al. Lyndon Ricks Florence, Al and Clarence Little (Vera) Sheffield, Al; Four Granddaughters: Vashti, Haven, Layla Twelve Grandsons, Delvin, Dolan, Dante, Daniel, David, Xavier, Dylan, Corey, Landon, Austin, Malik and Braden; A special Great grandson, Dimitri E. Ricks, Five -great grandchildren; Three sisters, Odelle Thompson Florence, Al, Ella McElroy Sheffield, Al, Betty Coleman Rogersville ,Al; Three Brothers, Rev. Bobby Rhodes (Catherine) Andalusia, Al, Rev. Owen Rhodes Erie, PA., Harold Rhodes (Donna) Pelham, Al; One Brother-in-law: William Ricks, Muscle Shoals , Al; One sister-in-law, Joyce Rhodes, Florence, Al; a host of nieces, nephews cousin and friends.
. Public Viewing Hours Thompson & Son Funeral Home
Friday, December 04, 2020
1:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Email Details 415 S. Poplar St.Florence, Alabama 35630 Directions Graveside Service Pearsall Cemetery
Saturday, December 05, 2020
12:00 PM
Email Details Muscle Shoals, AL 35661 Directions
At a young age, she accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior at Eleven Grove Missionary Baptist Church, Oakland, Alabama. Jean Ricks was known for starting out as a musician playing the piano and organ for various churches in the Shoals area. She also taught piano lessons for many years within the community. Her love for hymns and for the spiritual songs of Dr. Watts, was exemplified in her ministry of music. She also played for the Springhill District Women's Choir. Jean Graduated from Burrell Slater High School in 1956. She met and married Buell Ricks January 24, 1960.
She worked with YWA, and Crusaders. She would take carloads of young girls and boys to Selma University for a weeklong Christian camp. Jean participated and worked with the State of Alabama Baptist Convention and with the National Baptist Convention USA. Her travels would start in June and go through September. She wanted to spread God's Word by making sure everyone was educated in the Bible's teachings. Jean was elected Dean of Springhill District Convention in 2000. She helped to start and run the Springhill Leadership School until 2005.
She worked for A.G. Gaston's Booker T. Washington Insurance Company for 14 years where she traveled and met many instrumental Leaders of the Civil Rights Movement. Jean assisted with the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's. She also worked with the PTA at W.C. Handy School. She was a Girl Scout Leader for ten years and Cub Scout Leader for six years. She strived to keep her children involved in various activities, sports and most importantly knowing who God is. She enjoyed sports and loved to watch her favorite teams which were the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Jean and her sister Virginia took piano lessons at an early age. They both went on to play for the church. Jean moved her membership with her husband Buell to First Baptist Church of Sheffield where she enjoyed the leadership and teachings of Pastor Braxton, and worked with the Womens Ministry, Missionary Society, and was a very avid participant of the Sunday School Ministry until her death.
Great memory of my sis Jean. From Rev. Owen Rhodes of Erie, Pennsylvania: Jean and Buell were instrumental in civil rights work. In the early 1960's she worked for A.G. Gaston Insurance Company and she needed someone to ride with her to Bessemer Alabama and Mama and Daddy voluntold me when I was in my teens. I had an honor of being introduced to Martin Luther King, Jr. and Ralph Abernathy. Because of my sister Jean introducing me to great Civil Rights Leaders, it helped me to become involved in outreach ministries in Erie, Pennsylvania.
Preceded in death by: Father: Ross Rhodes Sr, Mother: Ether Rhodes, husband: Buell Ricks, daughter:Louise Ricks, sister: Virginia Rhodes-Smith & brother: Ross Rhodes Jr.
She is Survived by her Children, Larceina S. Ricks Cordova Tn, Lyetta Fant( Felix) Jacksonville North Carolina, Leonard Ricks (Meia) Florence, Al, Lenore Scott (Robert) Florence, Al. Lyndon Ricks Florence, Al and Clarence Little (Vera) Sheffield, Al; Four Granddaughters: Vashti, Haven, Layla Twelve Grandsons, Delvin, Dolan, Dante, Daniel, David, Xavier, Dylan, Corey, Landon, Austin, Malik and Braden; A special Great grandson, Dimitri E. Ricks, Five -great grandchildren; Three sisters, Odelle Thompson Florence, Al, Ella McElroy Sheffield, Al, Betty Coleman Rogersville ,Al; Three Brothers, Rev. Bobby Rhodes (Catherine) Andalusia, Al, Rev. Owen Rhodes Erie, PA., Harold Rhodes (Donna) Pelham, Al; One Brother-in-law: William Ricks, Muscle Shoals , Al; One sister-in-law, Joyce Rhodes, Florence, Al; a host of nieces, nephews cousin and friends.
. Public Viewing Hours Thompson & Son Funeral Home
Friday, December 04, 2020
1:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Email Details 415 S. Poplar St.Florence, Alabama 35630 Directions Graveside Service Pearsall Cemetery
Saturday, December 05, 2020
12:00 PM
Email Details Muscle Shoals, AL 35661 Directions
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