Louise Zeller Wicker

Lousie Zeller Wicker
Virginia Beach - Louise Zeller Wicker passed away peacefully in the early morning of November 26 at the age of 81. Born in Jackson, Mississippi, she was the eldest daughter of Raymond B. Zeller, M.D., and Elenor Gehrels Zeller. She was raised in Hazlehurst, Mississippi, and was Valedictorian of her graduating class at Hazlehurst High School. She then went on to attend the University of Mississippi, obtaining a B.A. in English Literature and was a member of the Kappa Delta sorority. While at the University of Mississippi she met her late husband Richard Fenton Wicker, Jr., a naval aviator, Korean War veteran and later Navy Chaplain and Doctor of Ministry. Louise traveled the world as a Chaplain's wife serving communities in Texas, Mississippi, Florida, South Korea, Tennessee, California, Guam, Rhode Island, and Virginia.
Louise taught special education for two years on Guam, later moving to an elementary classroom. She later obtained a Masters of Education at Old Dominion University, specializing in the teaching of reading and taught English at Tidewater Community College. She also was a reading specialist in the Norfolk Public Schools in the 1970s.
The Wickers settled down in Kempsville, Virginia Beach in 1975. Both Louise and her husband contributed to the ministry of Community United Methodist Church in Kempsville for over thirty years.
Louise was an avid genealogist, and active in the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Mayflower Society, the Colonial Dames of the 17th Century, the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, the New England Genealogical & Historical Society, the National Genealogical Society, and Jamestown Society. She was past Regent of the Adam Thurgood Chapter of the DAR from the 1989-1992 and named Honorary Regent as well as holding a multitude of other offices. Louise was the President of the Suffolk Chapter, Colonial Dames, 17th Century, 1997-1999
Louise is survived by her sons Richard (wife Kiki), Stephen (wife Sarah), and David, and her grandchildren Sofia, Alexander, Sebastian, Elena, and Julian. She is also survived by her four sisters Josephine Megehee (husband Dan), Beverly Herring (husband Jim), Dorothy Knight (husband Robert), and Stephanie Zeller, and her sisters-in-law Carrol Wicker and Nella Wicker (husband Walter). She was predeceased by her husband of 59 years, the Reverend Dr. Richard Fenton Wicker, Jr.
A memorial service will be held at Community United Methodist Church in Kempsville at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, December 18. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Louise memory be sent to the American Cancer Society or Community United Methodist Church.