Richard and I were colleagues at Garden Villas Music Magnet School for many years. In addition to being a remarkable person, he was an extraordinary teacher and helped all students in need. No matter how busy, he would come to the aid of a teacher needing support with a struggling student. I was fortunate to team teach with Richard his final year at Garden Villas. His passion for excellence and his dedication for learning made his classroom a very exciting place for his students. He was exceptional, and I am grateful for his years and support at Garden Villas. He will be missed, but never forgotten. 

Dear brother, a few weeks prior to your passing, I was musing and thanking God in my heart for blessing and protecting our family all through the years since the death of our parents. He wrapped his loving arms around us and kept us safe and in my heart I believe that he dispatched heavenly angels around our family over the years and let us know that he was there for us.

When I heard of your passing, it was just so unbelievable and so unexpected that it hit me like a brick wall.

But you loved God Richard, and your family knows that, and God knows that. You must be so happy to finally meet your maker and to embrace the love of God. For that, my soul is comforted. We have so many good memories of you brother. Although we didn’t always gather together frequently, when we all did come together, there was always love and laughter there. And it made me so happy when we were all together as one unit—one family. It made all your siblings happy.

I will miss us all gathered together around Rose and Thomas’s dining room table for various Thanksgiving dinners over the years. I will miss you stopping by each of our houses to visit and chat and how you always encouraged us in the Lord and encouraged us to be prayerful and trust God. I will forever miss your voice whenever I called and you would always greet me with, “Is everything ok Sister?”

I remember such fun we all had as kids growing up and the childhood games (Hide & Seek) we would play with neighborhood kids who were just like family to us because we played with these same kids everyday for a long time.

Do you remember the Christmas stockings that we all received from the landlord way back then? Full of apples, oranges, nuts, candies.  It made us feel so good as kids.  Mom made the best dressing.  Good memories.  We love you brother, and you will forever be in our hearts!

Richard, you were a good soldier in the army of the Lord here on earth fulfilling God’s work to the best of your ability and being an excellent role model to your son, Richard Jr. and step-daughters Tramaine and Tangelia, and to your many students as well who you’ve also made an impactful difference in each of their lives.

It’s an honor as a Sister for me to read all of your precious condolence messages and the kind words and to learn how you meant so much to so many people—your students, their parents, fellow co-workers, associates and friends, who all respected you so, and how you made a difference in all of their lives by being that example and going that extra mile while also practicing what you preached.

Richard, I had a teacher who once wrote in my school memory book. He said, “Penny, you are like a jewel, precious and rare and not found everywhere.” I would always ponder on those words and it stuck with me over the years often as encouragement.” And now Richard, I’ll pass those same words on to you dear brother. “You’re precious and rare and not found everywhere”. And each soul is precious to God. “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” (Psalm 116:15) Until we meet again my dear brother, know that your siblings love ❤️ you forever. Your Sister Penny.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” (John 5:24)

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: For this is the whole duty of man. (Ecclesiastes 12:13).