Minnie Lou “Inkey” Riddle, 1935-2022

Minnie Lou “Inkey” Riddle, 87, of Vicksburg, Mississippi passed away on August 11, 2022 at Asbury Hospice Hospital in Hattiesburg, Miss. Inkey was born to parents George and Luddie Hamm of Lake, Miss. on February 5, 1935.

Inkey moved to Vicksburg, MS where she worked many years with Westinghouse and met her future husband, Claude Albert Riddle. They were married on July 21, 1962 at Northview United Methodist Church. Inkey and Albert had giving hearts and chose to adopt their children. Inkey retired from Westinghouse to be a stay-at-home Mom raising Kimberly Kay and Mark Allen as their own.

Inkey was an extremely talented artist and has left several beautiful mementos for her family. She was a member of the former Beechwood, Lighthouse Assembly of God where she was an active part of the congregation. She was a Godly, selfless and incredibly strong woman, who never complained, even upon the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease, which she battled for 5 years before her death.

Inkey was preceded in death by her husband Albert, her parents, George and Luddie, her sisters, Elizabeth, Blanche, Barbara, Ivy, and her brothers Jerry and Buddy, and her son-in-law, Tim Opiela.

Inkey is survived by her daughter, Kimberly, her son, Mark, her granddaughter, Michaela (Caleb), and her 7-week-old great granddaughter, Liliana Jewel Bowen. She is also survived by one sister, Sandra Waltman, one brother, Baker Hamm (Mary), and numerous nieces, nephews, and greats.

Inkey was a very gentle woman, who was kind-hearted and would help any human or animal regardless of personal cost to her. She left a legacy to her family of God’s amazing love and grace and was a shining example to all who knew her. We look forward to the day we will be reunited in Heaven.

Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Monday, August 15 at Lighthouse Assembly of God, 1790 Sherman Avenue. Services will follow at 1 p.m. with Pastor David Case officiating. Graveside services will follow at Greenlawn Gardens Cemetery, under the direction of Fisher-Riles Funeral Home.

Pallbearers will be Jessica McDuffee, Greg Hamm, Jerry Owens, Kevin Mahoney, Greg Evans, Terry Winschel, Jimmy Salmon, Scott Hamm and Caleb Bowen.

In lieu of flowers, memorials would be appreciated to your choice of :

Alzheimer’s Association: https://act.alz.org/donate

ASPCA, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: https://secure.aspca.org/donate/ps-honor-sl-p1

Lighthouse Assembly of God: https://lighthouseofvicksburg.churchcenter.com/giving

“So many things I did not see,
When I had the time to see them.
The late nights making sandwiches,
The long days where we would not eat them.
The hours of work and the hours of play
And never a minute for herself
But she did it all with a smile and a hug
And never once asked for our help.
So many things I did not see,
Until I could not see them, ever.
I wished I had thanked her, when I had the time,
For everything, always, forever”