Mrs. Eddie Lynn Ricks was born March 16, 1925 to Mr. Edward and Mrs. Pearl Lynn. They had two previous daughters and were sure this last baby would be a boy. When the baby arrived, she was the third daughter. Her parents had planned to name the baby Edward after her father. Since she was a girl, they decided on the next best name — Eddie. After high school graduation, she attended Morris-Brown College in Atlanta, Georgia. After the first year, she transferred to Alabama Agricultural & Mechanical (AAMU better known as A & M) College at Normal, Alabama. There she met the love of her life, James P. Ricks, Jr. He played football at A & M and was curious about the cute cheerleader.
After graduating from A & M, she moved to Tuscumbia, Alabama, James’s home, and her first teaching job was at Reedtown School in Russellville, Alabama in about 1950. She later got a job at a one teacher, six-grade school in the Colbert County School System in Spring Valley. Her next teaching assignment was at St. Paul School across the highway in Colbert County School. St. Paul was a two-teacher school. She was the teacher-principal and James, her husband was the teacher. In 1953, their second daughter, Karen Denise was born.
She later transferred to Leighton Elementary. When Leighton was designated to become grades one through three, she was asked and chose to accept the fourth at Brick Hatton School. There she remained until her retirement giving thirty years of service as an educator. While employed, she was nominated for the Outstanding Teacher Award at Jacksonville State University during which John Landers, Superintendent of Colbert County Schools, lauded her as being one of the most dedicated and understanding teachers that he ever met and that she was an inspiration to many young teachers during her career.
She departed her earthly home on Saturday, December 2, 2017 at Helen Keller Hospital surrounded by her wonderful family and friends.
Mrs. Ricks was preceded in death by her husband, James P. Ricks, Jr., parents, Edward and Pearl Lynn, two sisters, Anna Mae Lynn and Mattie Mae Lynn, one nephew, Clayburn Lynn. She is survived by two loving and devoted daughters, Sheryl Ricks Cannon, and Karen Denise Ricks, two grandchildren Yolanda (Myron) Fisher, Jonathan (Melinda) Cannon, great-grandchildren, Arianna Fisher and Isaiah Fisher, Deandre Ramsey, Tiara Ramsey, James Cannon, Shaun Cannon, and one great-grandchild Whitley Ramsey, one niece, Gloria Twymon, one nephew, Edward Lynn, three great nephews, five great nieces, one special daughter, Dorothy Mayes, and one godchild, Melanie Croom Bell.
Visitation with the family will be Tuesday, December 5, 2017 from 5-7:00pm, Thompson and Son Funeral Home, Tuscumbia, AL.
Funeral service for Mrs. Ricks will be:
12:00 Noon – Wednesday, December 6, 2017
High Street Church of Christ, Tuscumbia, AL
Bro. Michael Roberts, officiating
Burial in Oakwood Cemetery, Tuscumbia, AL
The public viewing will be Tuesday, 12-8:00pm.
Thompson and Son Funeral Home, Tuscumbia, directing
