Vera Eugenia Rickman

Vera Eugenia Rickman, age 83, of Orlando, Florida passed away on Monday, January 10, 2022. A descendent of the Alachua County, pioneer McDavid and Thrasher families, Jean was born April 24, 1938 in Alachua General Hospital to parents, Barton and Vera McDavid Thrasher.

As Jean grew up, she was quite active socially. While in school, Jean participated in many clubs, including Keyettes, and student council. She was also a majorette, and a member of Little Women. Her name was frequently mentioned in the Gainesville Sun social columns, and she was given an award by the Pepsi Cola Company for meritorious achievements in school and in the community.

After high school, Jean attended and graduated from Florida Southern College in Lakeland. There, while studying to become a teacher, Jean pledged Alpha Chi Omega Sorority, where she was active the entire time she was in college. Jean ended up teaching elementary school for a while in South Florida, but kept the roads hot with visits, in her sporty little Corvair, to Gainesville.

In 1964 she married Wayne Rickman, a young man from Tennessee. To this union, two children were born, Mark and then Michele. Settling in Orlando, where Wayne was well known as the basketball coach at Boone High School, they lived a wonderful life. One filled with love and old fashion values.

Jean and Wayne were both active in Orlando First Baptist Church, and remained together until his untimely death in February of this past year. She made a decision a number of years ago to accept God's love and ask Jesus to be her Lord and Savior. We take comfort in knowing that her eternity is secure based on God's word. John 3:16 reads,"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life."

A visitation for Vera will be held Sunday, January 16, 2022 from 1:30 PM to 2:00 PM at Orlando First Baptist Church - Henry Chapel, 3000 S John Young Pkwy, Orlando, FL 32805. Following the visitation will be a funeral service at 2:00 PM at Orlando First Baptist Church- Henry Chapel, 3000 South John Young Parkway, Orlando, Florida 32805.