George Ricketts

George F. Ricketts died on July 11, 2013.  He was 76.  He was predeceased by his first wife of 48 years, Dawn Crawford Ricketts, and his mother and father.  He is survived by his second wife of 6 years, Deborah Burnette Ricketts, and his four children, Jennifer Ricketts of Arlington, Jeff and his wife Cathie Ricketts of Richmond, Mark and his wife Tami Ricketts of Chesterfield, and Melanie Ricketts Brent of Mechanicsville.  He is also survived by 10 grandchildren, Anthony, Meredith, Laura, Alanna, Emily, Joey, Aislyn, Andy, Will, and Amanda.  He is also survived by a brother, William Robert Ricketts, Jr., of Roanoke.  He was a native of Martinsville, Virginia, and lived in Richmond, Virginia for 30 years.  Since 1995, he has lived in the community of Hallieford in Mathews County.  George was an ordained Baptist minister who graduated from the University of Richmond and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.  He was Chaplain in the Virginia National Guard and was Chaplain at the Southampton Correctional Center and the State Farm in Goochland and Powhatan.  He was appointed Executive Director of Chaplain Service of the Churches of Virginia, Inc., in 1968 and served for 27 years until his retirement in 1995.  Mr. Ricketts served on numerous boards and committees.  He was a member of the Religious Herald Board of Trustees for 24 years.  He was a founding member of the Board of Directors of the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy and served for 8 years.  He was a founding Board member of Offender Aid and Restoration and a founding Board member of Volunteer Emergency Foster Care of Virginia.  The Rev. Mr. Ricketts served 24 years as a member of the Virginia State Crime Commission, appointed by 6 Governors (3 Democrats and 3 Republicans).  He was appointed by the State Senate to serve for 8 years on the Criminal Sentencing Commission.  The Judicial Council of the Supreme Court of Virginia appointed him to serve on the Judicial Evaluation Task Force in 2000.  George was a member of the Richmond Torch Club from 1966 until 2003.  He was honored with the “Outstanding Leadership Award” in pastoral care and counseling by the Virginia Institute of Pastoral Care in 1978.  The Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith, Virginia Region in 1973 awarded him a “Community Service Award”.  Interment will be private.  A memorial service will be held at Philippi Christian Church in Deltaville,Virginia, on Tuesday, July 16, 2013 at 12 Noon.  In lieu of flowers the family requests that contributions be made to Chaplain Service, 2317 Westwood Ave. Room 103, Richmond, VA 23230 or to your favorite charity.  Arrangements by Bristow-Faulkner Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Saluda.