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With deepest sorrow, we announce that Rickey “Big Baby” Pittman, 36, our most beloved son, brother, father, family member, and friend, passed on Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020, at Our Lady of the Angels Hospital. Those who knew Rickey, even just a little, lost a shining light in their lives.

Rickey “Big Baby” Pittman, the son of Rickey Pittman Sr. and Chiqueta S. Pittman, was born Dec. 17, 1983, in Bogalusa. He took an early liking to music and played football, baseball, and was always one to take care of others.

He graduated from O. Perry Walker High School in 2002, where he was a member of the football team. Rickey acquired a genuine interest for sports and athletics, which earned him a full scholarship to Southern University. Later, Rickey moved to New Jersey in 2005 and he began working for FedEx and later on a construction company.

Rickey and Karen met in the summer of 2005 at a flea market called “Cowtown” in Pilesgrove, N.J. During the following two years they dated, and Rickey became a part of Karen’s family, celebrating holidays and weddings. It was always a time of fun and laughter if Rickey was around. He was always willing to help in any way and loved enjoying life with the people he loved. He was also always cooking. While Karen was pregnant, one thing he always made sure of is that she ate, often whipping up something out of nothing.

They welcomed their beautiful daughter, Alani Ra’Miyah-Ka’Pre Stull, in July of 2007. Alani adored her dad. Rickey would take her to the park, Six Flags, and different events in New Jersey. He took advantage of any chance to show Alani off and brag about her. He attended her first Valentine’s Day Father and Daughter Dance at her school in 2014. Rickey had so much goodness, so much capacity to bring happiness to others and such a bright future.

He returned to Bogalusa in 2016, and while mapping out his future plans, Rickey began to work as a cook for Don’s Seafood in Covington. Later meeting and embracing his son, Jaiden Jamal Peters with his late mother and Rickey’s fiancé, Myranda Louise Peters. Rickey was an active and dedicated member of the Motorcycle Club.

Since Rickey’s death, many have written about how special he was and how fortunate they were to have known him. They admire how he built connections with communities wherever he traveled. They reminisce about his ever-present smile and the warmth, depth, and intelligence behind it. Most of all, they recall the sheer pleasure of his company, how good he made them feel, how free they were to be themselves around him, and how much they will miss him. Rickey cared about people in the purest way. He loved them for who they were, and he wished the best for them without guile and without expecting anything in return. As one of his closest friends wrote, “What you saw was always what you got with him, and if what you saw, if you were lucky enough to be his friend, was truly a delightful, generous, easy-going, fun, loving human being. A son that passed away way too soon. We love and miss you so much my son.”

Rickey will be greatly missed everyday by his daughter, Alani Ra’Miyah-Ka’Pre Stull and Karen Stull of New Jersey; son, Jaiden Jamal Peters; mother, Chiqueta S. Pittman of Bogalusa; father, Rickey Pittman Sr. of Jackson, Miss.; two sisters, Ricqueta (Giston) Pittman and Chiqueta Pittman; one step-sister, Denise Peters; four nephews, Corwyn H. Cates, Giston B. Cates III, Damien D. Robinson Jr., and Michael A. Robinson; four nieces, Ra’navia C. McCray, Linda B. Cates, Chidasia D. Robinson, and Chinyla H. Robinson, all of Bogalusa; grandfather, L.C. Pittman of Sandy Hook, Miss.; two grandmothers, Margreat Pittman of Bassfield, Miss., and Anna Louise (Mama Lou) Sampson of Bogalusa; a special mother, Carla Lombard of New Orleans; four uncles, Kendrick Peters and Floyd (Alisha) Owens, both of Bogalusa, David (Maxine) Pittman Sr. and Wallace Pittman of New Orleans; 16 aunts, Laveta Sowell, Lorraine Williams, Oralisa (Donnie Ray) Baldwin, all of Hattiesburg, Miss., Janice Sowell and Cassandra Sowell, both of Bogalusa, Wilda Spikes (Toriana Morris) of Baton Rouge, Tokingea (Jeremy) Hall, Linda (Phillip) Wise of Highland, Md., Deidra Owens, Christa (Michael) Oree, and Latonya Owens, all of Bogalusa, Carolyn Pittman of New Orleans, Charlotte (Xavier) Woods of Conroe, Texas, Cynthia (Edward) Jones, and Michele (Ruben) Horne of New Orleans; great-aunts, Rose (Eddie) Adams of Bogalusa, Faylene Foster, Venette Sheridan of Varnado, Carolyn (Janola) Walker of Bogalusa,, Nicole Peters of Texas, and Sheray (Douglas) McLellan; four great-uncles, Willie R. Johnson of Katy, Texas, Bobby Foster of Varnado, Tyrone Pigott of Bogalusa, and Larry Mark of Varnado; special brothers, Brandon Johnson of Tennessee, Francisco, Lombard, Ryan Pittman, Elwin “Doby” Pittman, Byran Pittman, Deon Gaines Jr. all of New Orleans; special cousins of New Orleans, Michael Sowell, Tommy Sowell, Horace Sowell, Harlem Sowell, Robert Bell, Tommy Bell Jr., Marcellus Bell, John Fobres Jr., Eddie Adams Jr. of Bogalusa; and a host of cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by fiancé, Myranda Louise Peters; grandmothers, Janie Lee Foster and Sowell (Willie) Peters; great-grandmother, Ora Lee Johnson; grandfather, Floyd Lee (Audrey) Owens; aunts, Regina Owens and Cassandra Pittman; and his brother, Antonio Lombard.

A funeral service will be held Saturday, Dec. 19, at 1 p.m. at Crain and Sons Funeral Home of Bogalusa, with the Rev. Eddie Perdue officiating. Interment will be in Bogalusa Cemetery.

Crain and Sons Funeral Home of Bogalusa is in charge of arrangements.