Mrs. Willie V. Ricks or Mrs. Flossie as she was known by her friends, or Granny or Grandma as she was called by her children and grandchildren and even some of her dear friends, entered into the arms of Jesus in the early hours of Thursday, January 28, 2021.

Born September 16, 1930 to Willie Elias Powell and Ester Lee Townsend Powell in Johnson County, Kite, Georgia; she was the 3 ^rd of 5 siblings.   She was the last of her siblings to be deceased.  Her parents farmed the land that they lived on, raising their own meat and growing their own vegetables; raising livestock, chickens, corn and whatever provisions necessary to be self-sufficient.   She shared with her children that when she was quite small as a toddler, her mother would tie a rope around her waist which the mother secured to a tree while her mother helped her father in the field.   This was to keep her safe and keep her from wandering off.

There was no electricity and indoor facilities in the home.   The home was lit by candle and oil lamps.

When she started to school, on occasion she would ride to school in a horse and wagon driven by her school teacher, Mrs. Lawson of Kite.   When returning home from school, she and her siblings were expected to work in the fields and help with the chores.  A favorite after school "snack" was a leftover biscuit from breakfast.  She would use her finger and "bore" a hole into the biscuit and then pour homemade syrup into the biscuit.

She was the beloved wife of Clyde L. Ricks of Ricks Glass Co. of Adrian, GA which he founded in the 1950's.   They eloped on March 30, 1946 when she was 15 ½ years old and Clyde was 16 ½ years old; they shared almost 75 years together.  They were married by Mr. Durden, a Justice of the Peace, in Norristown, GA.

In 1972 at the age of 42 years old, she surprised herself, Clyde and their two children, Linda and Ronnie with the birth of another child, who was named after Clyde's father and Clyde himself, "Kennon Clyde Ricks".  Her daughter who at that time had been married two years still recalls the phone call when Dr. Donald Kennedy in Adrian told her that she was expecting another child and "that she was old enough to know what caused it".   At the time, mother and daughter both were upset and shared tears of shock.

However, when Clyde asked about the tears and learned of the pregnancy, he was thrilled.

In the years since that announcement, the family recognized and thanked God for that special blessing.  Ken was born July 15, 1972 and Clyde and Flossie became grandparents for the first time on June 6, 1974.  Thus, there were a lot of special memories and times that the uncle and his niece shared because of the closeness of their age. Of course, Ken had a whole other set of rules to abide by than the previous two children and he was spoiled according to the other siblings but he did kind of grow on them with time.  God also knew that Clyde and Flossie would need him to be there for them in their elder years.  It was very seldom dull around their home, from wild horse rides to run-away go carts.

She is survived by her three children, her daughter, Linda R. (Wayne) Jones of Macon, sons, Ronnie Ricks and Kennon "Ken" (Wendy) of Adrian, GA.

She was the loving grandmother to six grandchildren: Michele Jones Burgess (Jay) and Michael W. Jones, Jr. (Heather) of Macon, GA; Jeremy Ricks (Kelly) of Swainsboro, Ga and Nikki Ricks Williams (Talon) of Statesboro; Kaley Ricks of Adrian and Kyle Ricks of Swainsboro.

Great grandmother of ten great grandchildren:  Lindsay Marie Burgess (Macon), Madelyn Grace Jones, Hannah Catherine Jones, Leah Denise Jones and Michael W. Jones, III of Macon, GA.  Nash Ron Ricks and Alba Marie Ricks of Swainsboro, Cam Michael Williams and Brynn Williams of Statesboro, GA and Kenli Brooke Anderson of Adrian, GA.

She experienced life during the time of World War II, the hard times and tribulations of the Great Depression and the Korean War.   She saw and experienced the introduction of the first use of electricity in the rural home along with the first indoor plumbing and bathroom, telephone and air conditioning.

She was a great cook; a talent which she inherited from her mother.  Her family shared many special gatherings around the family table.  No one made potato salad, turkey and dressing or chocolate cake like her.  Many are the memories of her children getting off the school bus and smelling a still warm chocolate cake from the road.  She loved cooking for her family and watching their enjoyment of the food that she prepared.

She loved to spend time fishing in the family pond.  She would fish until it was so dark that you could not see the bobber. If no one else caught a fish, Granny probably would.  She passed the love of fishing down to her daughter, Linda Jones and grandson, Kyle.  She loved fishing so much that her son, Ronnie, on one occasion took her fishing in the Hoopee.  Unfortunately, that particular time, she caught her foot in some mud/stump and ended up breaking it.  Ronnie had to haul her out of the "Hoopee" on a four-wheeler.  Needless to say that was the last time that she experienced fishing in the Hoopee.

Granny loved raising goats and was always sure to share about any new baby goats.  Up until the last few years, you had to keep an eye on Granny or she would be inside the fence trying to make sure that her goats were fed.

She was a petite and delicate lady.  However, her will and determination was in-dominate.  She faced many trials during her life and many health issues but never gave up.  Many were the times that she lay in a hospital bed and could be heard praying out loud for the Lord to help her.  And she would rally and return home to her beloved Clyde.  A sweet reunion embrace was her return from Memorial Hospital in Savannah, GA after having carotid artery surgery just a few short years ago.  Granddaddy must have been awaiting her return.  Before she was even out of the car and the family had gotten her walker, Granddaddy was down the steps and making his way to her using his walker.  They made their way towards each other and when they met, walker to walker, they placed their heads together to greet each other.  They were so happy to be reunited.

One of the features that first attracted her husband was how pretty she was.  Even this week, he shared with his daughter of how pretty she was.  She always made an effort to look her very best.  Thursdays was her day to have her hair done and you did not dare schedule anything that would conflict with that appointment.

She loved people and never met a stranger. She loved going to the Farmhouse Café in Adrian, GA.  There was always someone to greet her and open the door.  She was always so happy to see John and Darlene, who she loved and who loved her.   They were special to her and she considered them as part of her family.  They were expected, if time allowed, to come and sit a spell with her and talk.

There was always lots of special friends at the Farmhouse who would come by and talk with her and Clyde.  I guess they were so old and had been a part of Adrian for such a long time that many of the folks considered them "special"; they were a part of her family and she was a part of theirs.

Whenever you would see Clyde, you could almost be assured that she was with him if she was able.  They were each other's caregivers.  This became even more so after Clyde had a stroke in October 2016;  but Clyde was also her care giver.  Many were the times that he would say "Flossie, have you checked your sugar?"  Theirs was a love that transcended a lifetime.  There were hard times but their love always got them through.  They knew that they could always depend on each other and would be there for each other.

On January 28, 2021, a part of that special circle of love was broken.

Funeral services for "Mrs. Flossie" will be conducted on Tuesday, February 2, 2021  at 2:00 o'clock in the afternoon in the Williams Chapel of Sammons Funeral Home, Soperton, with Reverend David Oliver of the First Baptist Church of Adrian officiating.

Mrs. Ricks will be laid to rest in the family plot of Ricksville Cemetery; near her home.

Her family will receive friends on Tuesday, at the funeral home, from 1:00 pm until the hour of service.

Mrs. Ricks will lie in state in the Williams Chapel on Monday afternoon for those wishing to visit and pay their respects privately.

The Ricks family requests that strict adherence to present COVID spread prevention guidelines be adhered to.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory to: The Aplastic Anemia & MSDS Foundation, Adrian Baptist Church, The American Cancer Association, Serenity Hospice, Serenity Place in Dublin, GA or the charity of one's choice.

Please share a memory, leave a condolence message and sign the online guest register.

SAMMONS FUNERAL HOME, The Tradition Since 1917, Soperton, Georgia