Latest news with #RickyFloyd
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pastor Ricky Floyd honored at city's Day of Prayer
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Pastor Ricky Floyd's loved ones say they will continue his legacy each and every day by serving, praying, and believing in the City of Memphis. The City of Memphis participated in the National Day of Prayer on Thursday. Church and community leaders hosted an event at the Pursuit of God Church in Frayser, where Floyd served as senior pastor before he was shot and killed March 12. Dozens of Memphis-Shelby County School students were in attendance, joined by city and clergy leaders who covered them in prayer and even shared the trials and tribulations they've endured. 'One thing we all knew about Ambassador Ricky D. Floyd, he had a prayer life. He loved to pray,' said Dr. Telisa Franklin, a community leader. 'Literally, he was all about, 'How can we pray for our community?'and then once we get through praying, we got the boots on the ground, let's get out in the community and let's ignite change.' Argument over Bible led to Pastor Ricky Floyd's death, attorney says His wife, Pastor Shelia Floyd, spoke about her husband before she prayed for pastors in the City of Memphis. 'I definitely want us to lift up my husband, Ambassador Ricky D. Floyd Sr., who was the Senior Pastor of this church and we want to honor him,' she said. The event took place during a time of despair in the city of Memphis. There have been at least 36 shootings over the last two weeks, and unfortunately, some of the victims were children. Franklin, one of the event's organizers, said they're continuing the work that Pastor Floyd was known for. 'And so today was a day to charge them to go back to their communities, go back to their schools, go back to their peers and say, 'It starts with me, I've got to do better and I'm going to be the change that I want to see,'' Franklin said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Yahoo
June hearing set for woman charged in Pastor Ricky Floyd's death
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A preliminary hearing date has been set to June 4 for the woman charged in connection with the deadly shooting of pastor Ricky Floyd. It's been three weeks since Pastor Ricky Floyd was shot to death in South Memphis outside a bar. Samantha Marion is facing a charge of voluntary manslaughter for the fatal shooting. ORIGINAL: Pastor Ricky Floyd dead, woman charged after shooting at Memphis bar On Wednesday, she was released from custody weeks after posting her $100,000 bond. There are many components to the highly publicized proceedings. WREG obtained a video recorded by Marion herself is already playing a big role her attorneys say in a case that has garnered national attention. 'If she did not have that video she would wear the scarlet letter, basically no matter how the case turns out. But in this particular instance, God's grace was on her,' said Marion's Defense Attorney John Keith Perry. Argument over Bible led to Pastor Ricky Floyd's death, attorney says 'We were trying to coordinate with both of our schedules as well as the special prosecutor and the victim's family, who wanted to attend as well,' said Kevin Massey, Marion's defense attorney. After nearly two hours of back and forth, a date was set for Marion's preliminary hearing. A lot is weighing on the now-scheduled hearing as the judge will then determine if there's enough trial evidence. We could learn much more in just over 60 days as the prosecution as well as the defense has been ordered back to court on June 4th. During the upcoming preliminary hearing, Marion's defense attorneys told WREG it will give them the chance to hear what evidence the state may have as the case moves forward. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Yahoo
Homegoing celebrations begin for Pastor Ricky Floyd
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Homegoing celebrations will begin on Thursday for Pastor Ricky Floyd who was shot to death earlier this month. A visitation will be held later this evening, taking place at R.S. Lewis Funeral Home on Austin Peay from 5 to 7 p.m. Argument over Bible led to Pastor Ricky Floyd's death, attorney says Floyd's funeral will be on Friday at Greater Imani Church. That service will begin with a visitation at 10 a.m., followed by a worship celebration at 11. We are told the funeral will be live-streamed on the Pursuit of God Church's social media page. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Yahoo
How Pastor Ricky Floyd tried to make Memphis better
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — As police continue to piece together what happened, many are reflecting on Pastor Ricky Floyd and his work in the community. Pastor Floyd — who was killed in a shooting at a South Memphis bar early Wednesday — has been on WREG countless times about his efforts to make the city a better a place. Pastor Ricky Floyd dead, woman charged after shooting at Memphis bar 'Just to see the joy on the people's faces,' he told WREG in 2015 at a turkey basket giveaway. From food giveaways to city-wide prayer events, Floyd wasn't afraid to bring awareness to the city's problem and offer possible solutions. 'We believe it's time for the church to make its presence known,' Floyd said at the first Memphis Prayer 365 where people of different denominations, different races gathered north of the downtown Tennessee Visitors Center. He was especially passionate about helping the inner-city youth. 'The children are the future of this city,' Floyd said at the mayor's prayer breakfast in 2018. 'Many of them, before they are even in a position to be an attribution, are being destroyed by poverty, crime and violence.' He launched the Husband Institute in 2013, which is a mentoring program that pairs men with boys to help them transition into adulthood. In 2017, a 11-year-old participant said it's helped him mature. 'I've learned how to grow up in life and then how to handle those that's not really on the exact same level as you are – handle people that are having a very bad day,' Eric Neal told WREG. Floyd was big on improving Frasyer. 'We've got to reduce environments where the criminal will feel safe,' he said. He even turned blight across from his Pursuit of God church into businesses where teens could work. He hoped to keep them out of trouble and earn some money. Over the years, he opened his church, offered aid and extended his efforts across the city. Floyd took charge of the Civilian Law Enforcement Review Board. It's a group appointed to investigate allegations of police misconduct. 'We are a voice to the voiceless,' he said in an interview in 2020. 'It's a dangerous combination when you have a lack of trust of community and then the fear that infiltrated police officers.' He was a believer of reform and the work. 'I have a lot more confidence on who we are and what we're doing,' Floyd said. Floyd's motivation also stemmed from his own stories. In 2016, he was carjacked at a South Memphis gas station when he stopped to put air in his tire. Local pastor meets the man who carjacked him 'When I stood up, to my surprise I see someone sitting in the car,' he said soon after it happened. 'I got drug for a while, flipped over for a while.' Two years later, we were there when he met the man who said he did it just before he turned himself into police. Floyd offered forgiveness. He even offered a hug and prayer. 'It's about liberating myself by not holding on to anger and bitterness,' Floyd said. In 2020, when far too many children became victims of gun violence. Floyd told us about his ongoing efforts again. 'What's happened is that gangs have become a replica for structure. The family structure that many of these boys need, want and deserve,' he stated. One of the boys, Jeremiah Cotton, told Your News Leader the mentoring program helped him find his music and avoid a path he didn't want to be on. Frayser pastor shot Monday, same day he was featured on WREG 'It stopped me from doing a lot of things that I would've done. Probably would be in worse trouble than I've gotten in. Probably would've sent me to jail or worse,' Cotton said. The same day the story aired, someone followed Floyd's car and shot him. 'They unloaded several rounds into my car. Five hit the car and one hit my leg,' Floyd said. He believed he healed quickly, because he had an assignment. 'I think God needs me here to feel the pain of the people. It's not enough for me to sympathize. Now, I can empathize with families who've experienced this unwarranted violence on their life,' he said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'A beacon of hope': Officials, community mourn Memphis pastor Ricky Floyd's death
Prominent Memphis pastor Ricky Floyd was killed in a Downtown shooting Wednesday morning. Floyd was killed on Kentucky Street, between the Eagle Distribution Company and Momma's Bar and Grill. Memphis police say they have arrested and charged 42-year-old Samantha Jackson. Floyd's death drew immediate reactions from public officials, religious leaders and Memphians who took to Floyd's Facebook page to share their condolences. Memphis Mayor Paul Young was among the first to commemorate Floyd. Young took to X, formerly known as Twitter, and called for an end to "senseless gun violence." "My heart is more than heavy today as we mourn the tragic loss of Pastor Ricky Floyd to senseless gun violence," Young said. "Pastor Floyd was a beloved leader, friend, mentor and servant to our city. He dedicated his life to lifting up others and guiding countless souls with his wisdom. His death is more than a loss for his family and his congregation — it is a loss for Memphis. Gun violence in our city has taken too many lives, shattered too many families and left too many communities in grief. This must stop. "We cannot allow senseless gun violence to define us. We must stand together — neighbors, leaders, law enforcement and faith communities — to bring meaningful, lasting change. I ask every Memphian to pray for Pastor Floyd's family, his congregation and all who are hurting. Let's move into action. Let's work together to build a Memphis where tragedies like this are no longer a daily reality. We owe it to Pastor Floyd, and we owe it to each other. "Rest in power, Pastor Floyd. Your light will not be forgotten." Rev. Bill Adkins — pastor at Greater Imani Church, the Cathedral of Faith in Frayser — was a close friend of Floyd's. "He was a person that we were always so proud of," Adkins told The Commercial Appeal in a phone interview. "Pastor Floyd was a beacon of hope in the Frayser community. He did so much for so many. He did many things that so many other churches do not do as far as going into the street, helping the underserved, helping the underprivileged, looking for those that needed guidance, working with the youth in the community, doing everything he could — helping start businesses. His ministry was complete and total on every level, for the whole person. It was just a tremendous loss for us to lose him last night." Floyd called Adkins "Pops," he said, adding it was "all he ever called me." "I'm devastated by his loss. All I can say to the Pursuit of God Church family is be proud of the work that he accomplished and what he had built and hopefully, somehow, it can continue to go on," Adkins said. This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Officials, community mourn Memphis pastor Ricky Floyd's shooting death
