Rickey Ricardo Escalante

Mr. Rickey Ricardo Escalante of Tampa, Florida, passed away on Wednesday, January 12, 2022. The Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, January 22, 2022, 2:00 p.m. at St. John Cathedral, 3401 Bishop Eddie Newkirk Way, Tampa, FL 33605, with Pastor Dwight Newkirk, officiating. COVID-19 GUIDELINES OF WEARING MASKS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING WILL BE STRICTLY ENFORCED. Interment will follow at Rest Haven Memorial Park Cemetery.

Mr. Rickey Ricardo Escalante was born on June 26, 1956, in Tampa to Mr. and Mrs. Olegario Antonio and Susie Lee Williams Escalante. He received his early education in the Hillsborough County Public Schools system and graduated from Robinson High School in 1974. Since Rickey was a people person, it was quite fitting that he obtained a Certification in Customer Service and worked for companies such as Met Life, Colonial Penn, Chase, PMSI, United Rental, Ameri Group, and Home Depot (part-time). His hobbies included dancing, modeling, decorating, home crafts and decor, and gardening. Rickey had such a distinctive flair for fashion. During his formative years, he attended Mt. Moriah Primitive Baptist Church with his mother on a regular basis. Rickey accepted Christ in later years and united with St. John Missionary Baptist Church, where he was baptized by senior pastor, Elder Eddie Newkirk. Rickey immediately connected with the Usher’s Ministry and became a member of the Young Adults Usher Ministry and served as Vice-President. He also became President of the Youth Ushers Ministry. Rickey remained a faithful member until the Lord called him from “labor to reward” and he gained his Heavenly wings on Wednesday, January 12, 2022.

Rickey was preceded in death by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Olegario Antonio (Susie Lee William) Escalante; brother, George Escalante; and nephew, George R. Escalante, Jr.

Rickey leaves to cherish many fond memories with Mary, his loving and devoted wife of 41 years; two caring sons, Carlos and Eric Escalante; grandchildren, Judea, Sunsare, Britanna, Ceyani, Carlos Jr., Te’Carry, and Erika Escalante; great granddaughter, Chaylianna Escalante; five brothers, Antonio Escalante (Virginia), Roosevelt Escalante (Gloria), Willie Escalante (Joy), Frank Escalante (Rita) of Mitchellville, Maryland, and Joseph Escalante (Tanya) of Orlando, Florida; mother-in-law, Letitia Shaw; four sisters-in-law, Kathy Escalante, Nicole Davis (Ronnie), LaShanki Shaw, and Carla Gainer (Tallie III); four brothers-in-law, Walter Shaw (Junette), Benjamin Shaw (Misty), Shawn Shaw, and Sherrod Shaw; five God children, Ariel Thompson, Courtney Wright, Malachi Jenkins, Jimirra Matia, and Taraji Harrell; two God sisters, Leatrice Franklin, and Janice Andrews; a host of special families and friends including, Aunt Rosie Abrams, The Davis Family, The Gainer Family, The Johnson Family, The Dexter Family, The Brown Family, The Miller Family, Sharon Thompson, Bonnie “Queen” Rushing, Janice Troupe, Patricia Meredith, Jasmine Roe, Sharon Allen, Ellen Robinson, Irene Bedford, Jackie Stenson, and Andrew and Virginia Newton; and, a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, classmates, co-workers, church family, and extended family and friends.

The Family abundantly thanks Dr. Silva Kumar and staff, especially Nurse Joy Earnhart, Dr. Raphael Blasini, Dr. Eugene Ward, Dr. Parks, Option Care, Northdale Pharmacy, the Roe Family, and Ebba Wilson.

Visitation will be held on Friday, January 21, 2022, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at St. John Cathedral, 3401 Bishop Eddie Newkirk Way, Tampa, FL 33605. MASKS REQUIRED.

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