Elsie Hull Richardson

Elsie Juanita Hull Richardson departed this life on Friday, July 11, 2025. She was born on May 5, 1929, in Columbus, Ohio, the daughter of Corrine Pritchett Strickland and Ermon Strickland.

Elsie married Charles C. Hull, and to this union, they had three children: Sarah, also known as L. Hull-Mabra, Mabra-Cloud, Bruce Hull, and Michael Hull. Later in life, she married George D. Richardson; to this union, she became the stepmother to Leigh Ann Richardson-Calub and John Richardson.

Elsie graduated from Springfield High School. After graduation, she pursued a career in Secretarial Administration. She also pursued a degree in Cosmetology and became a beautician for many women in Yellow Springs. Elsie was an interim secretary to Dr. Charles Leander Hill, president of Wilberforce University. In the early sixties, she became secretary of the director of the American Humanist Association. During this time, she and Charles were very active in the Civil Rights Movement. In 1965 to 1966, she worked for Johnson’s Publishing Co., Ebony magazine. In 1968, she became director of publication and mail at Wilberforce University, and she also became Students' Accounts Officer for the Climb program. Elsie was instrumental in forming the Wilberforce Credit Union and became their accountant. She was the founder and became president of the AFL-CIO non-professional staff union. She retired from Wilberforce University as a Student Account Officer.

Elsie belonged to the Elks, Eastern Stars, and the Generational Club called the Six Silhouettes of Yellow Springs. She was a supporter of the St. Joseph’s Indian School, Chamberlain, South Dakota.

Elsie enjoyed bird watching, crosswords, word and picture puzzles. She loved watching Jeopardy game shows and soap operas. Elsie was a great cook; her specialties were rolls, cakes, and mac n’ cheese. She enjoyed cooking Sunday dinners and was known as the mac-n-cheese Mom. Elsie adopted various rescue dogs, and she belonged to the ASPCA.

Elsie’s memory will live in the hearts of her children, step-children, grandchildren, Daria M. Mabra, Maria R. (Zack Bullock) Mabra, Jason (Susan) Hull, Malcomb Hull, Jessica (Steven) Hull Mills, Destiny Hull, Zoe Hull, Victoria Hull, Joslynn Hull, Matoe Hull, and Bryan Hull. Step- grandchildren, Joey (Amy) Cloud, Ryan Richardson, James, and Chad Calhoun. Brothers Winston and Rodney Banks. Her cherished friends, Dr Edward, Gloria Wingard, Melissa Calvert, Franics Clevenger and, Althea Smoot. Special nieces Deborah Woods, Patty Young, Charla Henry, and Jan Gaines. Dearest friends who called her Mom, Barbara Brandon, and Ester Hughes.

Elsie was the oldest member of Covenant United Methodist Church, formerly Wiley UMC. She also attended Central Chapel AME Church Yellow Springs.

Elsie was preceded in death by her first husband, Charles C. Hull, and second husband, George D. Richardson, and one granddaughter, Jasmine R. Hull.