Marlon Ricks

Marlon L. Ricks, 45, of Chattanooga (Baptist faith), passed away Thursday, May 15, 2014, at Gold Star Health Care Center in Inglewood, Calif. He was born May 7, 1969 in Chattanooga, he was preceded in death by great-grandmother, Ethel Ward; uncles, James Prist, Norman and Johnnie Ricks. Marlon, a 1987 graduate of Howard High School received two scholarships to attend Tennessee State University. He received the Atkins-Alfred Scholarship and an academic scholarship from TSU. At Howard Marlon was a member of the National Honor Society, Student Council, and Upward Bound. He was listed in Whos Who Among American High School Students and the Society of Distinguished American hHigh School Students. Marlon graduated from TSU with a degree in Health Administration and had planned to complete the few hours needed for his engineering degree before his accident. Marlon is survived by mother, Beverly Billingslea, of Los Angeles, Calif.; son, Marlon Ricks, of Nashville; guardians, George and Maria Ricks, of Chattanooga; special uncle, David "Red" Ricks of Japan; father, Al-Kareem Abdullah of Pennsylvania; grandparents, Barbara Nealy, Percy and Louise Ricks, Sr., of Chattanooga; James A. Nealy, of Los Angeles; sister, Percena (Malik) Anderson, of Washington St., Francine Ricks, of Chattanooga; Penny Ricks of Pennsylvania; brothers, Akil (Tina) Ricks, of Los Angeles, George Ricks Jr. M.D., and Terry Ricks of Pennsylvania; uncles, Stanley Nealy, Anthony Ricks, of Chattanooga; aunts, Yolanda Nealy, Regina (Micheal) Edwards, of Chattanooga; and a host of other relatives and friends. Visitation: from 7-8 p.m. today at Taylor Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral will be at Taylor Funeral Home Chapel at 11 a.m. Saturday. Burial: Forest Hills Cemetery. Eulogy will be given by Darryle Hood. Arrangements by Taylor Funeral Home of Chattanooga Inc.