Alvin Lee Ricketson, Jr., age 83, of Douglas, Georgia, passed away, Saturday, September 26, 2026, at PAM Health Specialty Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida following a period of declining health.
Alvin, a Coffee County native and successful local business owner, was born on November 10, 1942, in Douglas, Georgia to the late Alvin Lee Ricketson, Sr. and the late Lavada Williams Ricketson. He was a graduate of Coffee County High School and a 1965 graduate of The Cincinnati College of Embalming. Following his education, he proudly served a 4-year term in the United States Navy where he served a tour in Vietnam. Upon his return from service Alvin devoted his life to serving families in Coffee County and the surrounding area. Alvin, a first-generation funeral director, founded Ricketson Funeral Home, Inc. and was Owner and Operator for more than 52 years serving families with dignity, compassion, respect. As the funeral business flourished Alvin expanded his services to become the first funeral home in Coffee County to have their own on-site crematory when he founded Ricketson Crematory, LLC. In 1976 Alvin married the woman God designed to be his lifetime soulmate, Phyllis Vickers Ricketson, who not only became his loving wife, but his steadfast right arm and supporter, and his business partner. Along with her help in the funeral business, they founded Ricketson Properties LLC. Alvin was always available for the people of this community in their worst of times to lend a guiding hand, offer a soft-spoken word of comfort or just be there to show his support for whatever their need was. Alvin was the epitome of a Southern Funeral Director, serving as a licensed funeral director for more than 60 years. To him, everything matters and was important, but it was the little things that made the difference. Alvin had a servant’s heart and always felt he was called as a funeral director, and his compassion and love for the people of Coffee County and surrounding counties was evident through this God-given ministry.
Alvin was a member in good standing within the National Funeral Directors Association, Georgia Funeral Director Association where just this year in June at the annual GFDA Convention on St. Simons Island he received his 60-year licensed pin. He was an active member of the Douglas-Coffee County Chamber of Commerce, as well as a past board member of Colony Bank, former Kiwanis club member, and was currently serving on the Douglas City Planning Commission. He was an avid supporter of the Coffee County Trojans and as long as his health was good, he could frequently be found in “his seat” in the stands at Coffee High Trojan football games.
Alvin is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Phyllis Vickers Ricketson of Douglas, Georgia; his two beautiful daughters and their husbands, Allison R. Gillespie and husband, Kevin, of Douglas, Georgia and Deanna R. Hutto and husband, Jared, of Bonaire, Georgia; three handsome grandsons, Ashton Gillespie and Addison Gillespie both of Douglas, Georgia and Thad Hutto of Bonaire, Georgia; a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Audrey and Ray Ricketson of Douglas, Georgia; one niece, Kim R. Lott and husband, Ben, of Douglas, Georgia; and one nephew, Rex Ricketson and wife, Jana, of Douglas, Georgia; along with his West Ward Church of God family and countless friends.
The family will be receiving friends on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, from 6:00 PM until 9:00 PM in the Chapel of Ricketson Funeral Home, Inc.
The funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM, Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at West Ward Church of God with Bishop Brit Peavy and Rev. Marshal Adcock officiating. Musical selections will include “Amazing Grace”, “How Great Thou Art”, and “It Is Well”, rendered by Rev. Harvey Sailors as vocalist and pianist. Entombment will follow at Douglas City Cemetery with Rev. Tim Mock officiating. Mr. Ricketson’s body will lie in state from 1:00 PM until the hour of service at the church.
Active pallbearers will include Ashton Gillespie, Addison Gillespie, Thad Hutto, Ben Lott, Rex Ricketson, Dusty Wilkinson, Jeff Anderson, T.C. Griffin and Jerome Loving.
Condolences, kind words and fond memories may be shared with Alvin’s family at www.ricketsonfuneralhome.com.
The Ricketson family is being served by the kind and compassionate staff of Ricketson Funeral Home, Inc. of Douglas, Georgia.