Jeffrey C. Ricks

Jeffrey C. Ricks

SPRINGFIELD, Ga. – Jeffery C. “Jeff” Ricks passed away from a brief illness on September 6. He was 71.

Born March 5, 1955, to Franklin Edward Ricks, Jr. and Frances Hutchinson Ricks in Wilmington, North Carolina. Jeff had recently moved to Springfield, Georgia to be closer to his children and their families.

Jeff attended Dixon High School in Holly Ridge, North Carolina, and after graduating in 1973, he joined the United States Navy which led him all over the world, including Italy, England, Panama, Beirut, Nova Scotia, Spain, and finally Norfolk, Virginia, where he met the love of this life and wife of 48 years, Lu Ann. They married on December 23, 1978, and raised two children together while being stationed all over the Southeast United States and Guam, before moving to the Savannah area and retiring from the Navy in 1997.

Upon his retirement, Jeff and Lu Ann returned to North Carolina where Jeff worked Civil Service positions at Camp Lejeune for 15+ years and retired for the second time in 2014.

He was an avid fisherman, passing on his love of the ocean to many friends, his children, their spouses and his grandchildren. When he wasn’t on the beaches of North Carolina with a fishing pole in hand, he was following all things sports, especially his beloved North Carolina Tarheels. His two favorite times of the year were college basketball season and his fantasy football draft with his children and friends.

Jeff is preceded in death by his mother and father, brother Jay Ricks, sister Julie Ricks Divinie and father-in-law William C. Ingram Jr.

He is survived by his loving wife Lu Ann Ingram Ricks, his daughter Melissa Ricks Reagan (Guerry), one son and daughter-in-law, two granddaughters, Rachel and Madelyn Reagan, one additional grandson and granddaughter; his sister Janice Ricks Noble (Roger), his brother Jody H. Ricks, mother-in-law Shirley Jelinek Ingram, brothers-in-law William A. Ingram (Lori) of Idaho, Randall (Linda) Ingram, Thomas (Cindy) Ingram, Marc (Eve) Ingram and Bradley (Melissa) Ingram all of Nebraska and sisters-in-law Ramona (Keith) Witte and Maureen (Gary) Gist of Nebraska, along with numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and friends all over the country.

Visitation will be at Strickland Funeral Home in Rincon, Ga. on Saturday, September 12 from 4-5:30 p.m.