Carole Ricks, affectionately known as Cookie, passed away peacefully at the age of 82 on Saturday, March 21, 2026. She entered into eternal rest at her home in Portsmouth, Virginia, with her loving daughter by her bedside.

She was a native of Norfolk, VA, and was the oldest of three daughters to the union of the late Lenwood Branch and Elizabeth Thorne Branch. 

Cookie attended the public schools in Norfolk, VA and was a 1961 graduate of Booker T. Washington High School where she took sewing classes at night. She went on to study and explore her creative side at the Moore College of Art & Design in Philadelphia, PA and attended Norfolk State University in Norfolk, VA.

She was an Army wife and widow to the late SFC James Alphonso Ricks. They had one daughter from that union.

Before becoming disabled, her early years of employment were at Naval Operating Base (NOB)/Naval Station Norfolk (NSN) Commissary, Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY), and Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia.

She was a longtime member of the Historic First Baptist Church-Bute Street, Norfolk where she was baptized at an early age. She served as an Usher, a Missionary, and dedicated time to the Soup Kitchen. In recent years, she volunteered at the Netcaster Food Pantry at New Life Church-Deep Creek Campus in Chesapeake, VA.

Cookie had passions for sewing her own clothes with a matching pocketbook &/or hat, math, playing BINGO & cards, reading novels, dancing and catering. Her homemade rolls, ice cream sandwiches, and lemon bars will be missed by many. Many days you could find her reading the Virginia Pilot newspaper while enjoying her favorites: ice cold Coca-Cola beverage in a sparkly cup, fried or steamed crabs, m&m’s chocolate candy, or Haagen-Dazs strawberry ice cream.

Cookie was preceded in death by her youngest sister, Anita Yvonne Cuffee. She leaves behind to her daughter to cherish her memory, Mesha Ricks Hayes of Portsmouth, VA, who was her primary caregiver; three grandsons, Bryan Benton Hayes, II of Suffolk, VA, Benjamin Hayes of Atlanta, GA, and Josiah Emmanuel Hayes of Portsmouth, VA; one granddaughter-in-love, Victoria Goodwin; one great-grandson, Brenton Lamont Darius Hayes; one sister, Brenda Branch Pierce of Los Angeles, CA; one niece, Monique “Mikki” Adams of Los Angeles, CA; one nephew, Rayminton Cuffee, Jr. (Adrienne) of Chesapeake, VA; three great-nephews, Rayminton, III, Anthony, and Ryan; twin cousins, Lesa Richardson of Chesapeake, VA & Linda Long of Portsmouth, VA, and a host of other cousins, family members, and caregivers.

In lieu of floral arrangements, the family invites you to donate to the Community Outreach Pantry at First Baptist Church-Bute Street which supports the church’s mission for community outreach. 418 E. Bute Street, Norfolk, VA 23510