Ms. Marie Ricks-Miles

Celebrating The Life Of Marie Ricks-Miles: Marie Winston Ricks was born on November 22, 1931 to the union of Edward Thomas and Mary Lucy Smith Ricks in Franklin, VA. She was the youngest of her 4 other siblings: Anne, Edward Thomas Jr., Vashti and Cecil. She attended and graduated from the South Hampton County School System in Franklin, VA. During her high school years and after, she was guided by an outstanding vocal music instructor and director, and she became the leading soprano in a female trio. The trio traveled and performed in schools, auditoriums and churches around Virginia and other surrounding states. In the early 50s, Marie decided to relocate to NYC and joined her older sister, Anne Walden and her family in Manhattan. She also joined her sister in working as a telephone operator at AT&T downtown. She re-connected with her high school sweetheart, Otha Miles, who had also relocated to New York. Otha wanted to serve his country, so he enlisted in the U. S. Air Force. In 1960, Marie and Otha married in California, as Otha was then stationed at Travis AFB in Solano County, CA. During the Vietnam War years, Otha's service enabled Marie to travel and reside at the NATO Aviano Air Base in Northeastern Italy. While Otha was active in his military duties, Marie began a position teaching Bible Study to children in and around Aviano. Marie and Otha enjoyed traveling throughout Italy and Europe during their downtime. They were further blessed, along with a select few other service members, to have a private audience with Pope Paul VI. After Vietnam, they were stationed at McGuire AFB and lived on the adjacent Fort Dix Army Base in New Jersey. For many years thereafter, Marie and Otha welcomed and entertained many family and friends at their home on Fort Dix. While at Fort Dix, Marie began work for the State of New Jersey at the New Lisbon Developmental Center, a facility for young men with mental and physical challenges. She enjoyed a long career as a Cottage Training Supervisor there, and developed lifelong friendships with many of the staff, especially best friends, Cleo Mitchell and Jack Lewis. After leaving Fort Dix, Marie and Otha moved to the suburban town of Willingboro, NJ; but by the end of the 1970s, they had divorced. In the early 1980s, Marie moved to her permanent home in Browns Mills, NJ, located just outside of the two military bases. Marie strongly loved and cared for all her nieces and nephews; but she exhibited an especial concern for her grandnieces, Monica and Sherry Etcherson (Thelma's daughters) - - who she invited to spend many summers with her during all their growing years, which they treasured. Marie affiliated with and joined Browns Mills United Methodist Church soon after moving. She became an enthusiastic member of their unit of United Methodist Women; and regularly attended the Bible Study classes held at the church. She became involved with the town's active senior citizen's center, and volunteered for many years as an exercise teacher there. She was cited in the local paper for her 5 years of dedicated service to her community. During these years, she continued to welcome and host family and friends to her ranch style, lake surrounded home. She also enjoyed traveling to New York and spending quality time with her older sister Anne, whom she loved with all her heart. Marie was an excellent card player, who also enjoyed playing Scrabble and doing crossword puzzles. They would go shopping and see Broadway shows together. They were delighted to see Lena Horne perform in her one woman show in the 1980s. Marie's health began to fail in these last few years. It was determined by a few neuro-specialists in the summer of 2016 that a brain tumor, which had been initially operated on in the early 90s, had redeveloped and would cause her body to gradually break down. This message was personally, professionally and medically relayed to nieces, Thelma Etcherson and Monica Callahan, with Marie present in a consultation in Philadelphia. Last year, when it became evident that Marie could no longer live safely in her home alone, Marie asked her nieces Monica and Thelma to relocate her to Thelma's home in Detroit. Monica attended to all the travel and housing arrangements to make this happen late last September. Marie's final days were spent at Botsford Commons Nursing Facility in Farmington Hills, MI. She endeared herself to the staff members; who along with Heart To Heart Hospice Services, made her as comfortable as they could, often praying for and with her. Marie quietly departed this life early Saturday, July 28, 2018.

Ms. Marie Ricks-Miles

November 22, 1931 - July 28, 2018