Mr. Ricky Blakeney, was born on June 5, 1952 in Pageland, South Carolina. Ricky was the son of the late Alonzo Baker and Lorene Blakeney.

He attended the public schools of Pageland, SC and Cleveland Ohio, graduating from Glenville High School, Cleveland Ohio, in 1970. Ricky was an extraordinary artist and used his talents to obtain several certifications. His art extended into his professional and personal life. Professionally he was an automobile designer for Ford Motor Company, retiring in 1998. Personally he did many portraits and numerous oil paintings for various individuals and institutions around the country.

Ricky was a car guru and had an astonishing recollection of vehicles to include all years, makes and models. From time to time people challenged his knowledge of cars and they lost every time.

He married Elizabeth Nadine Martin on June 5, 1971 and they were married 36 years until her death. Ricky became reacquainted with his elementary classmate, Michelle Rochon, and they were married on March 28, 2006. Shortly after marrying, Ricky and Michelle left Cleveland and moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, where they resided until his death.

Ricky never met a stranger and he will be deeply missed by many to include his wife, Michelle; his siblings, Sandra and Pat of Pageland, SC, Timothy and Terry of Monroe, NC, Randy and Gregory of Cleveland, OH, and Dorothy of Florida; step-children, Stephanie (Roger), Rhani (Akil) and Michael (David); his aunts, Ethel McNair of Charlotte, NC and Eutha Wingfield of Atlanta, GA; and numerous other relatives and friends.