Blanche Riddick

Blanche Ward Riddick was born on October 23, 1919, in Bertie Co. N. C., to the late Steward and Mollie Ward, the 4^th of ten children.  She graduated from C. G. White High School, in Powellsville, N. C., where she enjoyed playing basketball.  She was baptized at Piney Wood Chapel Baptist Church, Powellsville, at an early age.

After graduation, she married William Riddick, who preceded her in death, and moved to Portsmouth, Va., where she joined St. John Baptist Church and served as a deaconess and on the usher board. She was recognized in 2012 as one of the oldest members of the church.  She was given a plaque and a globe containing a Bible, which played “Amazing Grace”.  She treasured those items dearly.  She served faithfully until her health began to fail.

In her early years, Blanche worked at Planters Peanuts in Suffolk, but she was a seamstress by trade.  She was meticulous about her attire.  She enjoyed driving to Suffolk to shop on Main Street for the numerous outfits she wore to church.

Blanche enjoyed sewing, gardening, and cooking.  Baked sweet potatoes were one of her favorite staples.  And she loved her Spam! (Maybe that’s the secret to longevity)  She made an awesome coconut cake, which she stored in her freezer, so she always had some to share. Two of her favorite pastimes were watching her soap operas and talking on the phone.  At noon and 6:00 PM every day, you would find her in front of the TV, listening to the news.  She believed in being informed on what was going on in the world.  She was inquisitive.  She said her teacher told her that if you wanted to know something, you asked.

Blanche was extremely independent, and held on to that independence for as long as she could.  She was very particular when it came to her home, her yard, her appearance and the things that she did.  She had her own style.  She was definitely one of a kind, and left an impression on everyone she met.  She will be remembered, and she will be missed.

She leaves to cherish her memory one sister, Ruth Mallory, 3 brothers-in-law; Bill Mallory, Herbert Askew, and Adolph Cofield, Sr., god-daughter, Pastor Benita Hill, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.  Special thanks to her caretaker, Linda Diggs-Rooks, and her family for the comfort and support they provided during the last part of her journey.

This has been the legacy of Blanche Ward Riddick …. A life well lived.