Joseph Richards, age 92 was born to the late France Richards and Elizabeth Norton Richards on February 23, 1929, in Ashland, Mississippi, the fifth of eleven children. He transitioned to his Heavenly Father, peacefully at his home on April 17th, 2021.
In 1948, Joe traveled to Columbus, Ohio to care for his late uncle Joe Mathews for a year due to a severe injury that rendered him blind. He was drafted in the United States Army at the age of twenty-one on November 21st, 1950 where he worked as a cannoneer during the Korean war. After serving in Korea for two years, he transferred to the Army Reserve for an additional five years. Joseph was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army reserve on May 14th, 1957.
Joe married his childhood sweetheart Tommie Lue Strickland Richards on June 15th, 1952. From this union of sixty- eight years, he raided a very special niece as his daughter alongside five children that were born to he and Tommie. This led to a beautiful growth of fifteen grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.
He was a hard worker and spent twenty-three years working for Federal Glass Company until the Company closed in 1980. He joined Capital City Products for seventeen years until his retirement on January 20,1997.
Joe was baptized in Ashland Mississippi and gave his life to Christ at an early age. He was a devoted member of the Church of Christ and assisted with various roles and responsibilities for many years. He exercised and exemplified excellence in leadership roles as a church member, a husband, father and grandfather. He was firm, yet giving, stern, but loving, taking care of all who crossed his path. Joe put his heart, sweat and tears into his garden and shared his vegetables with friends, family and neighbors. At any time, you could see him mowing the neighbor’s lawn or helping friends work on their cars.
Joe enjoyed hunting, fishing, and watching boat races on the river front. He loved playing cards, listening to music and watching sports on television.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents, France and Elizabeth Norton Richards; brothers, Wilson, John Robert and Ellis Richards; sisters, Mattie Strickland, Lugenia Strickland, Annie Gibson and Delphia Richards. He leaves to cherish his memory, his loving wife, Tommie; sons Leon, Joseph (Ginger) and Jerome Richards; daughters, Debra Richards, Diana (Jeffrey) Lane and Dedra (Reginald) Richards- Dunlap all of Columbus, Ohio; sisters, Georgianna Reynolds of Atlanta, Georgia, Ruby Spight of Walnut, Mississippi and brother, Tommy Richards of Memphis, Tennessee, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews and friends.
PUBLIC Visitation 10:00 AM PRIVATE Visitation 11:00 AM and Private Funeral Service 12:00 PM Friday, April 30, 2021 at MARLAN J. GARY FUNERAL HOME, THE CHAPEL OF PEACE EAST, 5456 E. Livingston Ave. (one block east of Noe Bixby, turn North on Lonsdale Rd.).
Interment at Sunset Cemetery.
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You all are in my thoughts and prayers.
To Aunt Tommie and Family just giving you my deepest sympathy with our loss of Uncle Joe. He was well loved and will be missed. Love you Uncle Joe❤️ R.I.P
Keeping you all in thoughts and prayers.
Sending healing prayers and comforting hugs.
Dee and Family, You have my deepest sympathy. May the Lord comfort each of you during this time of sorrow.
Dee and Family,
“When Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply move..”-John 11:33
The Lord cares deeply for you in this time and is with you. His Word says this is so.
“The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord makes his face shine on you and be gracious to you; The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.”-Numbers 6:24-26