Janeen LaSonda Richard, 52, of  Miami, Florida passed away on October 20, 2022 .   

Life story – Early days

Janeen LaSonda (Rivers) Richards was born on July 26, 1970 to Eddie Lee and Joan White Rivers in Newark, New Jersey. Janeen was the youngest child of four siblings, Brenda Joyce, Edward Wayne and Karin Michelle  Rivers - Aaron.

Janeen was a playful child and in her early years, she was introduced to modeling due to her height and slender body frame. Janeen walked in several youth and community fashion shows including winning third place at the Clinton Avenue King & Queen winning a $10.00 cash prize in 1974. During the next few years she became a Brownie and earned several Pins and Badges thru the Girl Scouts of America - Newark NJ chapter.

In 1975, the family moved to Hillside, NJ, where Janeen attended Walter O. Krumbiegel Elementary School , and Hillside High School. During her high school years, Janeen was a member of the Spanish Club, Leo Club and the National Honor Society. Hanging out with her best friend, Sharon (Roberts) Williams she joined the HS marching band as a Color guard and graduated in 1988.

College Days:

After high school, Janeen went on to attend Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. She had a thirst for learning, and she thrived in the culture, artistry and community of the black college experience. She was ambitious and focused, balancing her academics as an English major with work-study to advance her pursuits. Beyond work, Janeen was a joy in every sense of the word. Everyone she encountered loved her innate quality of leading with a smile and a bit of dry humor.

She expanded her horizons during her junior year by traveling abroad to study at the University of Birmingham, England. The hallmark of her time there was meeting new people, opening herself to new experiences, and growing into her own as a young woman. Her time backpacking across France, Spain and Italy was awe inspiring and a catalyst to her successful next chapter.  In 1992, Janeen graduated with honors (cum laude) from Spelman with a Bachelor of Arts in English. She would go on to pursue her aspiration of becoming a lawyer.

Janeen attended the University of Miami School of Law from 1993-1996. While at law school she was an Associate Editor of the University of Miami Inter-American Law Review, member of the Moot Court Board, received Best Brief at Moot Court Competition, was a member of Phi Delta Phi, International Legal Honor Society, and the Black Law Student Association (BLSA), serving as Secretary from 1994-95. Janeen acquired many friends during this period of her life; and when she wasn’t spending time being a stellar student, she was spending countless hours hanging out and socializing with them on the “slab” and in the student lounge. On May 12, 1996, Janeen graduated from UM School of Law, with distinction (cum laude), earning her Juris Doctorate Degree.

Although Janeen was admitted to the Florida Bar in September 1997, she started her career in 1996 as a federal law clerk for the Honorable Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. She continued her career practicing civil litigation at Carlton Fields, PA (1998-2001) and then at Akerman Senterfitt, PA (2001-2006) where she began her focus on employment law.

Family Time:

In 1991, while working at Bayside Marketplace, Janeen met Dickson Richard. It was love at first sight. The couple started dating immediately and for the next several years they spent time together and traveled the world. Dickson and Janeen were married on February 12, 2001, in beautiful Miami Shores, Florida, surrounded by many friends and family. The couple honeymooned in Paris, France. Janeen was definitely an animal person, she and Dickson were pet parents to cats, Pokie, Dixie & Casey, and to Lucky, the family dog. Newly married, the couple enjoyed dining out, making holiday dinners, and spending time with family and friends.

Within a couple of years of marriage, Janeen and Dickson welcomed their first child, Kayla Janaye , born on August 21, 2003. Janeen was elated at the birth of her daughter. As new mothers do, she spent time ensuring that her first born had the best of everything, often preparing home-made baby food and following the baby books to the letter. Janeen and Dickson welcomed their second daughter, Avery Samantha, on June 8, 2005. By then, Janeen was a “pro” and no longer had any need for the books. Dollhouses, hair bows, and annual trips to Disney became the norm in the Richard household. Nothing brought Janeen more joy than raising her girls. She was very proud of them and loved them more than life itself.

In March 2004, Janeen became godmother to twins, Camron and Jayden Nelson. She was an integral part of their lives, regularly attending birthday parties and special events and always supporting them in their endeavors.

In 2006, Janeen went on to work as an Assistant School Board Attorney in the Personnel Department at the School Board of Miami-Dade County and in 2010 became an Assistant City Attorney in the Labor and Litigation Divisions for the City of Miami. For the past 8 years, Janeen worked at the City of Fort Lauderdale, as Human Resources Manager; this is where she ended her illustrious career. Janeen was respected by her colleagues and acquired many friends throughout this time span.

The fun times:

Janeen had a true zest for life. She enjoyed traveling, concerts, plays/musicals, movies, food, Disney World, spa days, family reunions, professional sports, shopping, but most of all, she loved being a mom to her girls, Kayla and Avery. Janeen travelled to Europe on several occasions, and most recently, she travelled to Dubai in 2016. Janeen loved music; she attended many concerts with friends and family and was a regular at Jazz in the Gardens.

Janeen religiously attended her family reunions in Plant City, FL and other venues. She also enjoyed the Strawberry Festival with family throughout the years.

Janeen loved Disney World and passed that love down to her youngest daughter, Avery. Since the birth of her children, a year did not go by where Janeen did not go to Disney World several times a year. Janeen’s final visit to Disney World with her family was in May 2021 .

Janeen loved many things, but her family was most important to her.

Current:

Janeen celebrated with her oldest daughter Kayla as she graduated High School in June 2021 and as she prepared for college. She had the pleasure of dropping her to her alma mater, Spelman College, in August 2021. Recently, Janeen took a trip to Washington D.C. for a work conference and got the opportunity to sight-see with her sister, Karin, spend time with her nephew Gil , and have dinner with her college roommate, Yumeka.

Janeen is survived by her husband of 32 years Dickson Richard (Miami, Florida); daughters, Kayla Janaye Richard and Avery Samantha Richard (Miami, Florida); sisters, Brenda Rivers (Miami, Fl) and Karin Rivers Aaron (Rodney)(Leesburg, VA); brother, Edward Rivers (Miami, Fl); nephews, Charles Edward Haynes (Arlington, TX) and Gil Johnson (Victoria) (Dallas, TX); Godsons, Camron and Jayden Nelson; Blue, the family dog; Blackie, the Cat; and a host of family and friends.

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