Rev. Leonard Isiah Ricketts, 70, of Manila, Arkansas and formerly of Benton Harbor, Michigan died early Thursday morning, December 11, 1980 at the Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.

Leonard was born January 21, 1910 at Belmont, Mississippi the son of the late William Ephraim Isiah & Viola Jane Harris Ricketts.

Rev. Ricketts served as a Pastor of Churches of God, Cleveland, Tennessee for more than 44 years and moved a year ago to Manila, Arkansas where he was the Pastor of the Manila Church of God. He also served as Pastor of the Crystal Avenue Church of God, Benton Harbor, Michigan and of the Churches of God of Coloma and Niles, Michigan. He served in the Benton Harbor District for more than 20 years and founded the SouthSide Church of God, Benton Harbor, a Church of God in Berrien Springs and a mission in New Buffalo all located in Michigan where he was a Minister from 1950 until 1979.

Survivors include his wife of 47 years, Lucile Shook Ricketts of the home in Manila, Arkansas; four sons, Leland (Linda) Ricketts of Bangor, Michigan, James (Ruth Ann) Ricketts of Fountain, Michigan, Ronald (Norma) Ricketts of Coloma, Michigan, Bill Ricketts of Coloma, Michigan; a daughter, Judy (Wayne) Woolum of Michigan City, Indiana; 18 Grandchildren; 6 Great-Grandchildren; six brothers, Dalton Ricketts, Curtis Ricketts, Lawrence Ricketts and Clovis Ricketts all of Booneville, Mississippi, Clyde Ricketts of Lauderdale, Mississippi and Humbert Ricketts of Fort Walton Beach, Florida; one sister, Cleo Shook of Blue Springs, Mississippi.

Funeral services were held at 3 P.M. Saturday, December 13, 1980 in the McMillan Funeral Home Chapel with Brother Walter Barwick officiating with burial in the Liberty Cemetery, Booneville, Mississippi. McMillan Funeral Home in charge of the arrangements.