Betty Ricks Wall

Betty Ricks Wall, age 103, died peacefully in her sleep on July 11, 2025.  A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, July 18, 2025, at Ingleside Baptist Church.  The family will greet friends one hour prior to the service in the sanctuary.

Betty was born in Hampton, Georgia to Lloyd Clifford Ricks and Mary Pritchett Ricks. She lived some of her childhood in Springfield, Missouri and Columbus, Ga but Macon became her home in her early teens.  She graduated from Miller High School in 1939 and went to Mercer University on a soccer scholarship and a $25 quarterly academic scholarship. While at Mercer, she was a member of Chi Omega and sweetheart of Sigma Nu Fraternity. There she met her future husband, Elton Wall; marrying him in 1941.  She became a devoted wife and mother to her 3 children- Tuck, Joe, and Tricia.  When Tricia started first grade, Betty continued her education at Mercer to obtain her Elementary Education degree- going to school on Saturdays and during every summer- graduating in 1963- all the while supporting her husband in his coaching career at Lanier High School.  She taught first grade at Riley School for 24 years.

Betty and Elton were active in several bridge groups, card playing groups, square dancing clubs, and Ingleside Baptist Church. Upon their retirement, they expanded their lives with fun trips to Canada, many locations in America, and Europe. They loved being with their children and grandchildren and every Saturday, Betty made the best “hot cakes” for whoever showed up for breakfast! Betty loved cooking for her family- oftentimes making a special lunch for her sons and grandsons every Monday and always hosting Thanksgiving and Christmas.

After Elton died in 2000, Betty continued with her activities- bridge/card groups, Sunday School Class, Mercer Alumni, Chi Omega sorority, Macon Civic Women’s Club, and Northwoods Garden Club. She was an officer in these clubs for many years and at age 80, she was President of both clubs. She was the first to volunteer to help or host- always cooking delicious treats for various functions. In 2018, she was honored as a 75 year member of Chi Omega Sorority. She was President and Treasurer of her Sunday School class and every Saturday for many years into her late 90’s, she and her best friend Cynthia Lynch “stuffed the Sunday bulletins” for Ingleside’s church bulletins.  Betty loved quilting, smocking, cross stitching, doing crossword puzzles, cooking, and reading. She loved to “go” and she participated in many activities when she lived at the Cottages on Wesleyan- especially if it involved music- singing, performances, and dancing - her toe was always tapping. On her 100th birthday, she celebrated with most of her family in Greenville, in Atlanta with her daughter’s friends, and at the Cottages with all of her Macon friends - 1 celebration was not enough! At her Greenville birthday, she loved looking at the restaurant table where all her grandchildren were sitting and the table where her great grandchildren were sitting-she was so happy.

She was predeceased in death by her husband of 59 years, Elton Wall, her sister Rosemary Ricks Cook, and her son-in-law Walter Buce.

She is survived by her three children- Tuck (Ginny) Wall of Macon, Joe (Pat) Wall of Charlotte, NC, Tricia Buce (Walter -deceased) of Atlanta, her 4 grandchildren- Joe Wall Jr. (Bev) of Charlotte, Mary Catherine Reyner (Charles) of Greenville, SC, Rob Wall (Elizabeth) of Winston Salem, NC, and Amy Buce (Mark Ware) of Anderson, SC.,10 great grandchildren, several nieces and nephews, her daughter’s bonus family Kathy Buce (Russ)Young, Trina Buce (Lane) Brown, Molly Buce (Sean) Hayes and their families.

The family would like to give special thanks to Sue Anne Morris, who added much enjoyment and comfort to Betty as a loving friend and regular visitor during her last 2 years. Also, the family sincerely appreciates the careful attention given to her at Zebulon Park.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Ingleside Baptist Church, 834 Wimbish Rd, Macon GA 31210 www.ingleside.org/ or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital www.stjude.org , or the donor’s favorite charity.

Please visit www.hartsmort.com to express condolences.

Hart’s at the Cupola, Hart's Mortuary and Cremation Center, 6324 Peake Rd, Macon, GA 31210 has charge of the arrangements.

Ingleside Baptist Church
834 Wimbish Rd, Macon GA 31210
Web: https://www.ingleside.org/.

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105
Tel: 1-800-805-5856
Web: http://www.stjude.org/