John R. Riddick, 85, of 711 Hollywood Ave., Suffolk, Va., died Sept. 10, 2012, at Nansemond Pointe Rehabilitation Center, 200 W. Constance Road. He was the son of Rebecca and Moses A. Riddick I and was also predeceased by his wife, Elsie Riddick.

He was born in Nansemond County and attended Booker T. Washington High School, where he was class president, and majored in history at Hampton Institute. He retired from Newport News Shipyard after 20 years of service.

He attended East End Baptist Church and served the city of Suffolk in numerous capacities. He was the first black uniformed sheriff’s deputy, a School Board member during the county-city merger from 1972 to 1976, a member of the Suffolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority board, a post-World War II veteran, having jointed the Army Air Corps in 1952, advocated for civil rights and voter registration, was chairman of Hollywood Civic League and served again on the School Board from 1996 to 2008.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was predeceased by five sisters, Lottie Wilkins, Allie Stewart, Ann Boone, Ruth Milteer and Rebecca Riddick Beamon; and two brothers: Moses Riddick I Sr. and Haywood Riddick.

He is survived by three sons, John R. Riddick Jr., of Tampa, Fla., Michael Riddick, of Hampton, and Adrian A. Riddick (Melinda), of Suffolk; and five grandchildren.

A funeral will be held on Sept. 17 at 11 a.m. at East End Baptist Church. A viewing will be held Sept. 16 from 5 to 6 p.m. at Crocker Funeral Home.