Minnie (Mickey) Gaines Riddick of Fleming Island, Fla. died on Friday, Nov. 11. She was 99.

She was a longtime summer resident of Oak Bluffs. Her pink and green house was a regular stop for the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, of which she was a member, when they visited Martha’s Vineyard.

She was born to Rev. M. Benjamin and Minnie Willow Hill Gaines on Nov. 30, 1922 in Lynn. She received a bachelor of arts degree from Shaw University in Raleigh, N.C. and then earned a master’s degree in social work from Rutgers University in New Jersey. She made a professional circle in 1964 by returning to Shaw University to serve as dean of students.

She received a myriad of awards and accolades in her lifetime, including social worker of the year by Altrusa International.

While at Shaw University, she met and married Rev. Dr. Leon C. Riddick. Their daughter Cheryl Lynn Riddick was born to this union and daughter Gloria Kershaw was brought into the family.

They moved to Charlotte, N.C. when Mr. Riddick pastored at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church. While living in Charlotte, she served at the Charlotte Area Fund; developed and organized Domestic United, a group fighting for and obtaining equal pay for domestic help; and became the first female, African-American executive director of the Park Road YWCA. She was offered and accepted a national position with the YWCA in New York city. In that position, she traveled around the world, preventing developmental issues.

After retiring, she returned to Charlotte, N.C. and she opened a photography business named Glory B. Creative Workshop.

After her husband’s death, she started life over again in Fleming Island, Fla. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Green Cove Springs, Fla. and an honorary member of True Life Church in Middleburg, Fla.

She is survived by her daughter Cheryl Riddick Cross and son in law Lawrence Cross; grandchildren Robin D. Smith, Ellynn M. Holman, Robert (Cory) Spencer and Naria L. Cross; and great-grandchildren Sara Swinson, Zachary Swinson, Michael Holman, Starr Jordan, Miles Jordan, Sasha Spencer, Jacob Spencer, Alexander Barnhart, Thomas Cross, Rayden Fountain, Raymond Fountain and Raymanda Fountain.

She was predeceased by her parents; her beloved husband of 60 years, Leon C. Riddick; her daughter Gloria Kershaw Smith; her grandson Oscar (Chipper) Smith; and her siblings Larry Gaines, Monte D. Gaines, Ben Gaines, Linda Gaines Jackson and Winifred Hope Gaines.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 30 at 11 a.m. at True Life Church, 2221 County Road 220, Middleburg, Fla.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared with the Riddick family at hollyhillfunerals.com.