John Addison Ricks, Jr. ’29, 103, passed away Aug. 13, 2010, at Waddell Nursing Home in Galax, Va. He was the son of John A. Ricks, Sr. and Ruth Harriss Ricks. He was born Dec. 23, 1906, in Greenville, N.C. He was a proud and loyal alumnus of Davidson. He also graduated from Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, Va., in 1932.
His first pastorate was at historic Rocky River Presbyterian Church in Rocky River, N.C.
In 1941, he moved to Webber City, N.C., with his wife, Mamye. He organized a Presbyterian congregation in the community, meeting in a vacant automotive garage for 11 years and eventually laboring alongside church members as they cut trees, planed lumber, and constructed a building for Immanuel Presbyterian Church.
After 15 years there, he and his family moved to Roanoke, Va., where he served as pastor at Belmont Presbyterian Church for 17 years. In 1973, he was called to Hillsville, Va., and served as pastor at Dinwiddie and Fairview Presbyterian Churches until his retirement.
He also served as interim pastor at Anderson Memorial Presbyterian Church in Pulaski, Va., and supplied Westminster Chapel of First Presbyterian Church, also in Pulaski.
In addition to his parents, Ricks was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Mamye Turner Ricks; his son, William Timothy Ricks ’71; grandson, William Scott Ricks; sister, Julia Hodges; brother, George Harris Ricks; and nephew, John Ricks Hodges.
Survivors include his son, John A. Ricks III ’61 (Elaine), 201 E. Beech St., Cochran, GA 31014-8510; daughter, Mary Elizabeth Whartenby (Tom); grandchildren, Anne Ricks Lampton, J. Addison Ricks IV, Bryan Glover, David Whartenby, and Kathryn Whartenby; great-grandchildren, Amy and Maggie Lampton; niece, Norwood Strasberger; nephews, G. Harris Ricks, Jr. ’75 (Wendy Smith Ricks ’81) and Tom Hodges ’50.