ORBIE MARGARET LYONS was born to Etta and Arthur Hill on May 31,1912 in the little town of Ray City, Georgia. She was the oldest of seven children and had three sisters (Rosie, Marine, Ruby) and three brothers (CJ, Sam, Roosevelt). Her family moved to North Carolina when she was six or seven years old. Orbie was baptized at the age of 9 at Red Hill Baptist Church. She married Octavious Lyons on May 6,1930, and had six childrenFlorine, Acie, James ("Buddy"), Clarence, Edward, and Sadie. She married her second husband, Charles Ricks in 1954 and moved to Baltimore in 1956. Charlie died in an automobile accident in 1963. Orbie began working for Mohler's Catering shortly after arriving in Baltimore and remained therefor many years. She officially retired in 1977 at the age of 65, but continued to work until she was in her mid-80s-first as a childcare provider and later as a housekeeper/companion to elderly women. One of the families she cared for more than 20 years ago kept in contact with her until her death. She and her oldest daughter, Florine, were recently featured in a documentary by one of the children. In 1962, Orbie joined the Refuge Church of God in Christ under Bishop Morris Lane. After the Refuge Church of God in Christ closed in the mid-80s, she joined TrueWay Apostolic Church under Reverend Lemuel Fuller, the husband of Florine. She remained an active and faithful member of that church until shortly after the death of Reverend Fuller. She began attending the Refuge Way of the Cross Church around 2003. She was a member of the Missionary Society and Senior Choir. Over the years, she became known to her church family as "Mother Ricks". To her children and grandchildren, she was simply "Mother". Mother had the spiritual gift of encouraging and comforting people. She was always willing to listen and give wise advice to those who came to her. Mother had a special place in her heart for the homeless, and for many years made regular donations to the Helping Up Missiona homeless shelter for men. She loved music- and organized a number of successful fundraising concerts at TrueWay and Refuge Way of the Cross. At the age of 89, she wrote and produced a song "Nobody Else" that describes her abiding belief and trust in our Lord Jesus Christ. In June, 2012, the Refuge Way of the Cross Church honored her in a celebration to commemorate her 100th birthday. Mother came from a line of long-lived women. Her own mother lived until the age of 94, her grandmother Rose died at the age of 102. Her aunts lived well into their 90s. She attributed her longevity and health to healthy eating, daily doses of vitamin E, staying active, and her dedication to the Lord. Her favorite saying was "Give God the Glory!" She had never been hospitalized until April, 2013. Mother leaves many to remember her: daughter, Sadie Leach; sister, Ruby Pittman; grandchildren, Sylvia Hargrove, Glenwood Johnson, Charles Johnson, Tyrone Johnson, Linda Johnson, Raymond Hood, Acie Lyons, Jr., Marcel Lyons, Denise Lyons, Bernard Lyons, and Benton Alexander Leach; as well as many great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins.