Bettye Foreman Ricketts

SEAFORD - Bettye Foreman Ricketts, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2008. She was born on Sept. 7, in Talledega, Alabama. She was the first born daughter of the late Titus and Inez Easley Foreman. As a child, Bettye loved books, fresh flowers and gardening. Bettye attended grade school and high school in Alabama, and graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in English from Alabama State University. Bettye relocated to Connecticut in 1964, where she met her late husband, Herbert E. Ricketts Sr. "Gene". They were married for 34 years before his death in 1999. From this union were born Timah, Herb, Drew, and Marvin. Bettye was a devoted wife and mother. She believed that her family should always come first. Bettye believed in tradition, morality, and education. She spent many nights reading to her children and encouraged them to recite nursery rhymes and poetry. She was an excellent cook and prepared a 3 to 4 course meal each night, and an elaborate Sunday dinner. Her specialties were fried chicken, chili and garden salads. The majority of her professional career was as an educator in Caroline County. She was employed as an English teacher at Colonel Richardson High School, the director of ABC Child Development Center, and the Head Teacher at MRDC Head Start, in Federalsburg, Md., before retiring in 2005. Bettye was an extraordinary and unpretentious woman, who was loved by her family and friends. She had a special closeness to her sisters, children, nieces, nephews, and sister-in-laws. She joined Mt. Calvary AME Church in 1998. She loved Psalms and Proverbs, and believed in strong educational and disciplinary child rearing values. Bettye's memory will be cherished by her daughters, Deborah Sowell (Joey), of Columbus, Ohio, and Timah G. Ricketts-West (Forrest), of Seaford; sons, Wayne Foreman (Donna), of Witchita Falls, Texas, Herbert E. Ricketts Jr. (Amy), of Lewis, Drew Ricketts, of Seaford, and Marvin Ricketts, of Seaford; 12 grandchildren, Meagan, Lashea, Jeremy, Dezyrie, Ian, KeiAsha, Syndney, Shawn, Stephan, John, Shakindria, and Kaeden; four great-grandchildren; three sisters, Anne Freeman, (Cleveland, Ohio), Florence Foreman, (Columbus, Ohio), and Rebecca Williams, (Battle Creek, Mich.); four sisters-in-law, Kathleen White, (Seaford), Florine Waters, (Bishopville, Md.), Estella Ricketts, (Federalsburg, Md.), and Betty Ricketts, (Denton, Md.); three brothers-in-law, Charles Williams, (Battle Creek, Mich.), William Ricketts, (Denton, Md.), and Norwood Ricketts, (Newark); and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Bettye will always be with us forever. Funeral services will be 12 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, 2008 at Bethel UM Church in Federalsburg, Md. Burial will be at the Federal Hill Cemetery in Federalsburg, Md. Arrangements by Bennie Smith Funeral Homes.