Mary Louise Jeffers Ricks August 01, 1956 – February 11, 2019 Share this obituary Send Flowers Sign Guestbook| Send Sympathy Card Mary Louise Jeffers Ricks, 62, died February 11, 2019, after a long journey with Alzheimer’s. Born August 1, 1956, in Caswell County, N.C., Mary who was called Louise, or “Weezie”, was the oldest daughter and fourth child of Robert Allen and Minnie Mae Jeffers. She is a 1974 graduate of West Philadelphia High School.
Mary enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1975. Once dubbed “Sgt. Stoneheart”, she served her country for 20 years achieving the rank of sergeant first class.
She retired in 1995 as a noncommissioned officer having worked as a signal support systems specialist. Her career took her from Philadelphia to Fort Jackson, S.C. for basic training. She would go on to duty stations at Fort Benning, GA.
, Fort Leonard Wood, MO. , Fort Polk, LA. , and member of the Order of the Eastern Star.
She received the following awards from the Army: The Meritorious Service Medal, the Commendation Medal, the Achievement Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Noncommissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbon with Numeral, the Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, and the Sharpshooter Badge (Rifle). Mary acquired the last name Ricks and an extended family of brothers and sisters-in-law when she married Abraham Ricks in 1981. Though they divorced in 2005 the remained friends.
After Mary left the Army she worked for a women’s shelter before transitioning to a position as a juvenile corrections officer with the State of Georgia. Hoping to do more children to prevent them from entering juvenile corrections she pursued a lifelong dream of opening her own daycare, Miss Mary’s Family Day Care. She owned her business for about a decade.
Mary leaves behind to carry her legacy her daughter Markeshia Nicole Ricks of New Haven, Conn. She also leaves to cherish her memory her mother Minnie Mae Jones Jeffers of Alton, VA. , her two sisters Cynthia Jeffers Martin (Larry) of Philadelphia, PA.
who served as her primary caregiver, Jacqueline Betsy- Mae Jeffers of Philadelphia, PA. ; three brothers, Robert Lee Jeffers of Philadelphia, PA. , Arthur “Stick” Jeffers (Glenda) of Branch, NC.
, John Wilbur Jeffers of Alton, VA. , and Jerry Wayne Jeffers (Susan) of Quakertown, Pa. along with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
She is preceded in death by her father, Robert Allen Jeffers and her sister Fransheila Nicholson. Mary’s homegoing service will be held at New Zion Baptist Church, 364 Old Satterfield Road, Milton, N.C. at 2 PM. A repast will follow the service.
Visitation will be held 1 hour prior to service. In lieu of flowers the family request that you donate to the Alzheimer’s Foundation, the Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Philadelphia VA Medical Center or HomeCare and Hospice Foundation Main Line Health in Memory of Mary L. Ricks Funeral services will be conducted by Fisher and Watkins Funeral Home, 707 Wilson Street, Danville, VA. , 24541.
Expressions of condolences can be mailed to 5214 Larchwood Ave. Phila. , PA.
19143.
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