Florine E. Waters, Stockley retiree
Florine E. Waters departed her earthly life and ascended to her heavenly home Monday, June 6, 2022.
On Sunday, July 4, 1943, on a hot summer day, the late Henry and Rosalie Ricketts were headed out to eat ice cream and cake. To their surprise, “Doll Baby” as she was called, stopped the party. During that era, ice men would deliver ice to your home. The ice man was delivering ice to their house, Doll was sitting in a chair and when he closed the door, she blinked her eyes. This frightened the man because he thought it was a doll baby sitting there in the chair. The ice man continued to deliver ice in the neighborhood, and at every house that he went to, he would tell them that Henry and Rose had a real doll baby. That is the beginning of the name, “Doll.”
Florine attended Federalsburg Elementary School in Federalsburg, Md., then entered Lockerman High in Denton, Md., graduating with the Class of 1963.
She later moved to Springfield, Mass. While living in Springfield, she was the first Afro-American who worked in the town’s drugstore.
Florine returned to Federalsburg when her father passed away. She then decided to go to cosmetology school. After graduating from Adele Reed’s Cosmetology School in South Philadelphia, she was employed at Green’s Salon in Seaford. Florine always liked being on the move, so she went to work at General Foods in Dover. However, she did not like working one week, getting laid off for three weeks, (a practice of the company’s) therefore, she went to work at the Stockley Center in Georgetown, retiring after 30 years of employment. In between working at the Stockley Center, she worked as a cashier at Rayne’s Food Rite for 12 years and Goose Creek Convenience Store for five years, both in Selbyville.
Florine became a member of St. John 2nd Baptist Church in 1983, under the leadership of the late Rev. Clarence N. Sample Sr. She became the president of the gospel choir in 1985 and remained, until her illness. Although she was ill, that did not stop her from bringing in songs for the choir to learn. She was very choosy about the way the choir dressed; they had to be color-coordinated. She was a pastor’s aide and a member of the Girlfriends Book Club.
Florine was preceded in death by her husband Charles, whom she married on Jan. 21, 1979; her parents, Henry and Rosalie Ricketts; four brothers, Calvin Smullen, Herbert Ricketts, Jeremiah Ricketts and Norwood Ricketts; three sisters, Eleanora Stanley, Kathleen White and Bessie Ricketts.
Florine leaves to cherish a lifetime of memories, three children: Verna Ricketts of Bishopville, Md., Troy Ricketts of Lincoln, and, Dyniece Ricketts of Bishopville; one sister: Estella Ricketts of Seaford; one brother: William (Betty) Ricketts of Denton, Md.; six grandchildren, six great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Pauline Lewis of Georgetown and Lillie Purnell of Dover; and a huge family in North Carolina; “son,” “daughters,” as well as a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and a large variety of friends.
2 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” I’m going up yonder to be with my God.
Services to celebrate Florine’s life will be at 1 p.m., Sunday, June 12, at St. John 2nd Baptist Church, 26602 Mt. Joy Road, Millsboro, with a viewing from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
To offer condolences or sign the guest book, visit benniesmithfuneralhome.com.
Professional services entrusted to Bennie Smith Funeral Home, Salisbury, Md.
