Rev. Lafayette Edward Riddick

Lafayette Edward Riddick was the ninth of ten children born to Benjamin J. Riddick and Margarita Alice Bertha White Riddick on June 22nd 1931, Powellsville, North Carolina in Bertie County. He graduated from C.G. White High School in Powellsville where his grandfather was the founder and acting principal of the school. After high school, Lafayette joined the United States Air Force in 1949 serving as a production analyst superintendent. Lafayette Riddick married Essie Mae Harmon on December 24, 1955. 

After 22 years of serving in the Air Force Lafayette retired in 1971. Once completing his time in the military, he worked for the state of New Jersey as a principal technician, (MIS) in the division of Family Development for the Department of Human Services for 20 years and retired in 1993. Lafayette was a very faithful man. He was baptized at the First Baptist Church in Powellsville, North Carolina. Later he joined the Antioch Baptist Church of Goldsboro, North Carolina, where he became licensed and ordained to preach in 1967. Lafayette was an ordained minister and son of Tabernacle Baptist Church under Reverend Jones. He went to seminary. He completed five correspondence Bible courses from the Division of Home Mission Board SBC; Philadelphia College of Bible, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from 1971 to 1972 working towards a BA degree. He pastored his first church in 1974 at St. John Baptist Church in Camden, New Jersey. His second pastoral position was at Shiloh Baptist Church in Ocean City, New Jersey. 

Preceding him in death his wife Essie Mae, his parents; his nine siblings, Lafayette, McKenzie, Ethel, Benjamin, Calander, Charlie, Calvin, Hattie, Juliet and a host of aunts and uncles. 

Lafayette leaves behind the empty hearts of his kids, son Garry Anderson (Helen) of CO; daughter, Garnette Riddick Wallace (Wayne) of NY; adopted son/nephew, Tom Riddick of NC; grandchildren, Garry, Toni, Juanita, Delana, Tiffany, Justin, Reiko, Nia, Sierra; 18 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild and a host of nieces and nephews.

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