Jessie Beatrice Ricker

Died: Jan. 6, 2013

Jessie Beatrice Shipley Ricker, 81, of the Camp Creek community, passed away Sunday at her home surrounded by her family.

Affectionately she was known as Momma, Mamaw, Mamaw BB, Bea, and Ms. Jessie by a host of family and friends.

She fought a courageous 4 1/2 year battle with acute myloid leukemia. She was a hero to all who knew her - having over 150 chemo treatments and numerous other treatments and procedures over that period.

She was a ray of sunshine and always had a smile and kind word to all that she met.

Her whole life she always put others first. Spending time with her loved ones was her greatest joy in life.

Momma was our angel here on earth and now our guardian angel in Heaven. "Thank you, Mom, for all the love and care you gave us. You were the "Best Momma in the World!"

She retired from Magnavox after 33 years of faithful service.

She faithfully attended New Jerusalem Baptist Church as long as her health permitted. Attending church was very important to her all her life, starting at a very young age.

Her favorite Bible verses were John 14, verses 1-3. She recited all three verses just three days before her passing. "Let not your heart be troubled, ye believe in God, believe also in me. (1) In my Father's house are many mansions, if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (2) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." (3)

Survivors include her children: Linda and Richard Morrison, Dale Ricker and Lisa McCamey, Sandy and Donnie Stanton, and Rhonda and Chuck Gray; her grandchildren: Jason Ricker and Lori Hutton, Sheena and Jason Compton, Lee and Brittany Stanton, and Nicki Hopson; her great-grandchildren: Dylan Ricker and Rickey Compton; several stepgrandchildren and stepgreat-grandchildren; her sister: Gladys and Donnie Ricker; five brothers: Bobby and Frances Shipley, Don and Jean Shipley, Kenneth and Joann Shipley, Frank Shipley, and Harlan Shipley; numerous nieces and nephews, including a special niece: Phyllis Ricker; sisters-in-law: Faye Ricker, Ann Shipley, and Wilma Woolsey; other special people in her life that were like family: Janet Bible Johnson, Barbara Burgner and both their families, and Joann and Leon Ricker.

She was preceded in death by her husband: Virgil Ricker; an infant son: Bobby Ray Ricker; an infant granddaughter: Logan Stanton; parents: Lloyd and Ora Shipley; four brothers: Perry Shipley, Eddie Shipley, Teddy Shipley, and Cecil Shipley; and her sister: Lois Harrison.

The family expressed special thanks to Dr. Dharmen Patel, Sheila Yokley and staff, Dr. Wahid Hanna and staff, Dr. Andy Roberts and staff, Laughlin Memorial Hospital staff, and the UT Medical Center staff for the loving care they provided her during the past 4 1/2 years., and thanks to Amedisys Hospice for their support the past 20 days.

The family will receive friends from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. today at Jeffers Funeral & Cremation Service, Afton Chapel.

The funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday in the funeral home chapel with interment in Harris Memorial Cemetery. The Rev. David Anderson and the Rev. Mark Starnes will officiate.

Pallbearers will be Jason Ricker, Lee Stanton, Donnie Stanton, Sandy Stanton, Edward Ricker, Lynn Ricker, Jason Compton, and Jeff Ricker.

An online register book may be signed at http://www.jeffersmortuary.com.

Donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or New Jerusalem Baptist Church.