Mrs. Louis Even Ricks King was born August 14, 1932, at her family’s home on Ricks Lane in Colbert County, Alabama. She was the oldest girl born to the late Fred and Mattie Mae Ricks. She departed this life on Saturday, December 5, 2020, at her home with her loving daughter and beloved grandson by her side. Her last words were to her “baby” Jec’Queline: “Always take care of your mother and keep God first.”
Louis graduated from Leighton Training School in 1954 and continued her education at Muc-Ko Beauty College in Florence, Alabama, graduating in 1956. Because of her love for the Bible and to sharpen her skills to teach Sunday School, she attended International Bible College (now Heritage University) from 1983-85.
Louis worked at NACOLG, where she was the supervisor of food services. In the evenings, she worked part-time as a seamstress at The Village Shoppe, Parisian and The London Shoppe. She also did alterations from her home. For over 60 years, she was a hairdresser, until her health prevented her from doing so.
Louis was baptized at an early age at Christian Home Church of Christ, which was established in 1832 by her great-great grandfather, Parson George Ricks. After her marriage, she moved her membership to High Street Church of Christ and in her later years attended Tuscumbia Church of Christ with her daughter and grandson. From a young age, she loved to travel and to attend gospel meetings. She first accompanied Bro. Marshall Keeble and Bro. T.W. Rucks, and later traveled with a group along with Bro. Freeman Malone. She especially loved attending gospel tent meetings and went to bed every night reading either her Bible or a Sunday School book.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Robert James King; and her siblings, Fred Ricks, Jr., Mildred Smith, Juanita Brown, Percy Ricks, and Gloria Underwood. She was widowed in 1971 and raised her three children and later on, her two grandchildren.
She is survived by sons, James Earl (Glenda) King, Larry Donnell (Rosie) King; daughter, Jacqueline King Carter; ten grandchildren; fourteen great-grandchildren; brother, Willie T. (Helen) Ricks; eight godchildren (five in Parrish, Alabama, and three in Tuscumbia) and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.
