Ricky Stevens

Mr. Ricky Stevens slipped away into eternal rest on February 29, 2024, in Sacred Journey Hospice Center in Newnan, GA. Mr. Stevens was the second child born to Effie Mayfield Stevens and Harry Dawkins on October 30, 1960.  He was baptized at Paradise AME Church and accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord an exceptionally long time ago.

Ricky attended Union High School during the late 1970’s and kept up with many of his classmates even after high school.  When they would see each other on the street, he would always say, “What’s happening?” or “What’s up, man?” as his standard greeting to acknowledge the other person’s presence.

To say that Ricky “never met a stranger” is truly an understatement. He loved getting to know people and would often be quoted as saying, “I know 100,000 people!”  Now whether that number was actually factual or not is irrelevant because to Ricky, a stranger was just another opportunity to share his love of fishing, deer hunting, horseback riding, episodes of the latest western movie he had been watching on television, his love of R&B music (especially Zapp & Roger, the Gap Band, and The Ohio Players), or to talk about his love for his family – all of them including his wife, children, grandchildren, sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews, and cousins.  “Uncle Ricky” was the life of the party whose loud voice could be heard from almost one end of Lucy Boler Road to the other end.  In South Carolina, his nickname was “Big Red,” but in Georgia, his nickname was simply, “Country.”  His passion for animals was self-evident; so much so that he was honorarily indoctrinated into the Black Cowboys of Atlanta social club wherein he would go on yearly rides through College Park to support the charities that the club would give to each year. Being over at the “horse farm” was a regular recreational activity for him where he met so many equestrian riders that came to know him on a first-name basis as well as” Country.”  Yearly barbecues were a big thing to enjoy over at the horse farm along with horse racing and rodeos that were held in nearby venues frequented by Black Cowboys of Atlanta.  Ricky often talked about the horse named “Smokey” that he used to ride as a youngster in Redpoint.  He really passed his love of everything called an animal on to his children who had as many dogs growing up as they had true friends – Maxine, Max, Midnight, Cocoa, Money, Remi, Blackie, Prince, as well as a goldfish who miraculously lived 5 years even though it came from the fair. 

Ricky and his wife Thelia moved to several places over the course of their marriage – first to Spartanburg, SC, second to Elizabeth, NJ, third to North Augusta, SC, fourth to Augusta, Georgia, fifth to Charlotte, NC and finally to Atlanta, Georgia in 1997 where he and his family chose to settle down  Their house on Casa Verde Drive was always full of life, especially for the neighborhood kids who came by to sample Ricky’s cooking just as much as within their own home.  No one could top his salmon croquettes and grits!!

Ricky worked as a construction laborer and as a landscaper for the Lakeside Golf Club in College Park, GA until the land was sold to a real estate developer.  His time there was not only a place where he thoroughly enjoyed working, but he often met some celebrities who came out to the golf course.  Of course, he wasn’t shy in talking to them either.  He had a side gig as well before side gigs were as popular as they are now.  He was a painter and started Stevens Paint Services, Inc. providing professional paint services for both residential and commercial clients.  He last worked as a sub-contractor for Marta, the subway transportation system in Atlanta.

 As for vehicles, he loved driving his Chevy Silverados (he had a gold one and a dark green one).  But his last truck, the red Ford F-150 took on a special place in his heart as just a few weeks ago, he told a nurse, “I’ve got to hurry up and get out of here so I can go back to work and pay for my truck.”  Well, Mr. Ricky, your truck is just like your salvation – already paid for and you don’t have to work for either of them anymore.  Jesus paid the price for your salvation on the cross a long time ago. 

Rick leaves fond memories for a myriad of people – Thelia, his devoted soulmate, Brittany Nicholle and Broderick Mayfield Stevens, (daughter and son), Kyliah, Peyton, and Broderick, Jr., (grandchildren), Goldie (Jermelia) Stevens, (brother) of Spartanburg, SC; Mable (Robert) Fuller (sister), a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and of course, those 100,000 friends.  Whitney Houston’s song “I’ll Always Love You” says it best as our love for Ricky will forever dwell in our hearts until we meet again on the other shore.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Community Mortuary Inc. 361 Meansville Road, Union, SC. 

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