Florence Ricker Inman

Florence Ricker Inman died August 27, 2014 at age 89. She was born in Houston, Texas July 12, 1925 to Dr. Norman Hurd Ricker, a distinguished physicist and Sallie Lee St. Louis Ricker, an artist and homemaker. Florence was named for her godmother Florence Parham Harris. She was the eldest of three children, Norman Hurd Ricker Jr., and Sallie Lee Ricker.

At 16 she entered Harriet Sophie Newcomb College of Tulane Univ. in New Orleans, earning a degree in Fine Arts.

Throughout her life Florence was actively involved in many philanthropic organizations, dedicating her life to these endeavors as well as pursuing work in many professions including television production interior design and early childhood education.

In the 1960’s a career in Interior Design was spawned offering design services tailored specifically to the needs of the builder of speculative homes. Few speculative builders at the time used Interior Design assistance. Her work included researching Architectural styles, offering suggestions and modifying them for today’s use.

Out of the Interior Design work grew an interest in the reproduction of beautiful, hard to obtain architectural details. Working with several other “pioneers” in the emerging field of plastics for use in construction, they were instrumental in the development of a variety of decorative architectural components. Experimenting with various polymers they began manufacturing entrance frames. Some of these pieces are still on houses on West Paces Ferry and Arden at Argonne. In 1970, Florence, along with Jerry Garrison, an Atlanta architect-builder, founded Focal Point Inc. The founders envisioned designing, manufacturing and marketing architectural products appealing to classically oriented professionals that would have aesthetic appeal; products such as elaborate ceiling cornice moulding, ceiling medallions, stair brackets and more that would replicate hand carved wood and plaster but would be manufactured in molds, be lightweight, pre-primed, shippable in cardboard boxes and installed at the job site with ordinary construction tools. This vision was realized and Focal Point became the first company to utilize high density polyurethane to this purpose. In 1978 the company received The ASID International Design award for its collection of innovative mouldings. Eventually the company became licensed by the Victorian Society in America, Colonial Williamsburg, Historic Natchez and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

In 1994 she married Sam C. Inman with whom she enjoyed many wonderful years of world travel and companionship. She was an avid portrait artist, a member of the Portrait Society of Atlanta, the Junior League of Atlanta, the Poppy Garden Club and a founding board member of Atlanta Landmarks, whose first project was launched to save the historic Fox Theater. She loved being a member of the Sewing Club going back to the 1950’s.

Florence is predeceased by her son, Norman Sandford Pottinger and her sister, Sallie Lee Snow. She is survived by her daughter Hallie Pottinger Henrickson and husband Patrick Henrickson and their son Samuel Harris Henrickson, her daughter in law Sandra McLaughlin Pottinger, her brother Lt. Col. (ret’d) Norman Hurd Ricker Jr., sister in-law, Nancy Ricker, Nephews Chris Ricker, & John Ricker., her

brother in law Dr. James B. Snow ll, nephews Jim Snow & Andrew Snow and niece Sallie Lee Sharer, step-son, Edward H. Inman II and children, Walker Inman, Susanne Inman, & Caroline Inman and deceased step-son John Reeve Inman’s wife Lucy T. Inman and their children, Catherine Inman, Taylor Inman and Elizabeth Inman.

The family would like to thank Florence’s devoted caregivers Sonia Davis, Cindy Robertson, Pat Richards and Tameka Simon.

Graveside services will be held on Wednesday, the third of September at ten o’clock in the morning at Westview Cemetery. A memorial service will follow at eleven-thirty at First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta. In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Shepherd Center would be appreciated.