Ricky Donald Tedford, 71, passed away peacefully at his home in Sweet Lips on June 4, 2026, after courageously battling a long illness. Funeral services were held, Saturday, June 6, at Sweet Lips Baptist Church with burial in Sweet Lips Cemetery.
He was born on June 3, 1955, in Pekin, Ill., to Jeff Tedford, Jr. and Jean Willis Tedford. He returned as a baby with his family to the land in Sweet Lips that he would cherish for the rest of his life. From picking cotton as a small boy to raising cattle, gardening and growing the sweet watermelons that he became known for, he loved the land deeply and worked it faithfully for many years.
On July 1, 1974, he married Beverly Jean Harber, and together, they built a life rooted in faith, family and devotion.
Though he worked as a life insurance salesman for many years, preaching the Gospel was his true calling. He began his ministry at Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, later became the founding pastor of Old Path Baptist Church in Cabo, and eventually pastored Sweet Lips Baptist Church, preaching his final formal sermon in December 2024.
Even after stepping away from the pulpit, Ricky never stopped sharing the goodness of God and the hope of salvation. He cared deeply for the souls of others and wanted as many people as possible to know Jesus and make Heaven their eternal home.
Although a bit mischievous in his early years, he later became known for his loyalty, kindness and unwavering faith. His worn and tear-stained Bible reflected a lifetime spent studying God’s Word and seeking the Lord. He quietly served others through prayer, encouragement and simple acts of kindness that often went unseen. Above all else, he loved the Lord.
Perhaps his greatest legacy is the faith in Jesus Christ that he passed on to his children and grandchildren. He lived a life that showed faith was not just something spoken from a pulpit, but something lived daily through kindness, sacrifice, and love for others. Though deeply missed, his family rejoices knowing the man who spent his life preaching about Heaven has finally gone home. “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”
He is survived by his beloved wife, Beverly Jean Tedford; his children, Tiffany (Zak) Tedford Young and Seth Thomas (Katie) Tedford; his six grandchildren, Caitlin, Cooper, Walker, Cullen, RaeLynn and Lawson; his sister, Patty (Mark) Cupples; many extended family members, church family and friends; and the countless lives touched through his ministry.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Jeff Tedford, Jr. and Jean Willis Tedford.
