Obituary of Iva Nelle Ricker

Iva Nelle Ricker, born in Bridgeport, AL, a long time resident of Talladega, passed away on Sunday, July 9 at the age of 91.  She enjoyed good health in general but suffered a brief spell due to complications associated with a heart valve.

Services will be held at the First Baptist Church of Talladega on Wednesday, July 12 at 10:00 AM.  It is hoped that her husband of 66 years, Rev. George E, Ricker, will be up to attending and will be strong enough to visit with friends and family following the service. Interment will be at the Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church near Bridgeport on Thursday, July 13 at 11:00 AM.

Iva Nelle is survived by George, who now resides at the Seasons in Talladega, by Steve and Debbie who reside in Lexington, KY, and by Dave and Susan who reside in Cumming, GA. Iva Nelle was preceded in death by her parents, Fern (Freeman) and John Luther Hurt.  Fern and Luther were members of the first class to earn a high school diploma from the Alabama School for the Blind.   .  Iva Nelle had a life long affinity for the visually impared. 

Iva Nelle, the middle sibling, was the only child to enter adulthood.  Her younger brother died as an  infant, and her older sister Mavis was born with a heart ailment which is now correctable.   The two girls shared a love of music.  Walking across town for piano lessons was the highlight of their young lives.  Her demeanor noticeably dipped when she realized it was the birthday of Mavis. 

Iva Nelle graduated from Bridgeport High School near the top of her class.  She earned a Bachelors degree from Howard College (now Samford University).  While George was studying at the Fort Worth Seminary she earned a Masters from Texas Wesleyan University.  Later she completed graduate studies programs at Huntington College (Montgomery, AL) in Music and The University of Alabama – Birmingham in Education. 

Iva Nelle taught at the Middle School in the Talladega City School System during the 1970's and 1980's.  Previously she taught in Bridgeport, Fort Worth and Montgomery.  She enjoyed learning throughout her life and sharing her knowledge with her students.  She kept articles she found interesting from “The Mini Pages” section of the newspaper for her own enjoyment.  It was a joy for her to encounter former students in town. 

Iva Nelle enjoyed playing the piano from an early age and took up the organ as an adult.  She served as the organist at Woodly Baptist Church in Montgomery during the 1960's and played piano for numerous church gatherings through out her life. 

Iva Nelle was a dedicated servant of the Lord who taught Sunday School for more than 60 years.   She meticulously researched and planned her lessons.  Her neatly hand written notes often ran to a dozen pages.  She was active in the Woman’s Missionary Union and led GA's.  She prayerfully supported career missionaries in the field with her tithes and offerings and volunteered in the US as well as Japan and Germany. 

Iva Nelle listened to Alabama and Auburn football games on the radio and later watched them play on TV.  She favored Auburn when the two teams met.  She took a special interest in the career of Bobby Bowden, the brother of a college class mate, as he rose through the coaching ranks. 

Every night for years, Iva Nelle and George have a played a card game based on Canasta called “Hand and Foot”.  Numerous friends and family members have been introduced to this pastime.  She enjoyed solving puzzles in the newspaper and loved to play along with quiz shows. Iva Nelle especially enjoyed traveling with her husband, family and church groups such as NFY (Not Finished Yet) and the Hilltoppers.  She traveled extensively to many U.S. states and throughout Canada, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, including a treasured trip to the Holy Land.  

In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to First Baptist Talladega or the Shocco Springs Conference Center. The family wishes to recognize the kindnesses shown by the staff of Citizens Baptist Hospital and the Seasons Assisted Living facility.