Mary "Bay Bay" Reddick

Mary Elizabeth Reddick, affectionately known as Bay or Bay Bay, was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas on May 17, 1952 to Emma Jean and Louis Gates, Sr. She was the baby girl of her parents'.
Bay accepted Christ and was baptized at an early age. She was a fifty-year plus member and faithful servant of the Mount Olive Primitive Baptist Church. She loved and was devoted to her church. She was very active in her church, serving as an usher and working in the kitchen until health issues no longer permitted. She looked forward to attending the Great Northern Association every year in St. Louis. Bay would see to it that she donated funds so the youth at the church could have an Easter basket and a Christmas sack.
She was educated in the Topeka Public school system and graduated from Topeka High School.
Mary gave birth to a baby daughter, Lisa Marie Gates that preceded her in death in October 1969. Lisa was only 3 months old. She married Tony Reddick in 1973 and they later divorced.
Mary spent her career working with children as a pre-school teacher.
Bay Bay was a loving and supportive, sweet woman. She loved her family and friends who became family. She had many visitors. Anyone who came to town would always stop in North Topeka to visit Bay, where she would have a welcoming smile and hot meal. Everyone who met her could feel her loving and giving spirit. You could always count on her smile and laughter. She loved children and enjoyed baking and cooking. She also loved watching sports and hosting sporting events at her home in North Topeka. Everyone loves Bay, after all she was so easy to love.
Through all her sickness she kept her smile and never complained. She always said, "I'm alright" and "No, I don't need anything".
The Lord called her home on Thursday April 13, 2023, after a long illness. She was seventy years old, exactly what the Lord has promised, three score and ten. To God be the glory!
She was preceded in death by her parents, her baby girl Lisa, a brother- James Green and a sister - Verdener Rickmon.
Bay Bay will be dearly missed and leaves behind to cherish loving memories: two devoted siblings, her sister - Shirley Goode and her brother - Louis Gates Jr. Her godson -Jermee Jones. Her niece - Bridgette Wayne (Iban) and nephews - Charles Berry Jr. and Josh Goode. Her three heartbeats - her great nephews, Jordan Ross, Charles III and Chase.
Two very devoted home healthcare workers, who were with her to the end, Delora Chesshire and Christine Fletcher. Her 'let's go for a ride' friend, Sharon Blount-Woods along a host of cousins and extended family and friends.