Rev. James Ridley
June 15, 1919-May 26, 1981
Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, May 27, 1981, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library
Rev. James Ridley, 61, of South Bend died at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday at the Memorial Hospital in South Bend following a lengthy illness.
He was born June 15, 1919 in LaGrange, Georgia, and had been a resident of South Bend for 15 years. He was the pastor of the Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Chruch[sic] in Niles. He was married to Mary Jones, on January 18, 1975 in South Bend. His wife survives.
He is also survived by one son, James Williams of Nashville, Tenn.; three stepsons, Michael Richey of Fort Benning, Georgia, Preston Richey of Sandusky, Ohio, Carl Richey of South Bend; four stepdaughters: Mrs. Betty Newsom of Niles, Mrs. Twila Newsom of Muncie, Ind., Mrs. Denise Chase of South Bend, and Sue Richey of South Bend. A stepson, Terry Richey, died in 1978. He has 11 grandchildren.
Reverend Richey[sic] was the past treasurer of the South Bend Club, and belonged to the Inter-denominational Ministers Alliance of South Bend and Niles.
Furneral[sic] arrangements are pending at the Pifer-Smith Funeral Home in Niles.
Niles Daily Star, Thursday, May 28, 1981, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. (Indiana time) Saturday at Mount Olive Baptist Church in South Bend for Rev. James Ridley, 61, of South Bend, who died Tuesday.
He was pastor of the Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church of Niles.
Rev. Ridley was first vice president and treasurer of the Baptist Training Unit Congress, Northwestern District, a member of the Inter-Denominational Ministers Alliance of South Bend and Niles and a past treasurer of the South Bend Club.
The Rev. Henry L. Giden of Mount Olive Baptist Church will officiate at the funeral services. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.
Friends may call from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday at the Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church, 1709 Fulkerson Dr.
The family suggests that memorials may be made to the Berrien County Cancer Society.