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Obituary of Florence Ashburn Richards

FLORENCE W. ASHBURN RICHARDS

Virginian-Pilot, The (Norfolk, VA) - Monday, April 30, 2001

Florence A. Richards 
SUFFOLK - Florence Ashburn Richards, 91, died Sunday, April 29, 2001, in Suffolk after a lengthy illness. She was born Jan. 7, 1910, in Suffolk, where she lived her entire life. She was the daughter of the late Mamie and Harvey Ashburn. She graduated from State Teachers College in Farmville, now Longwood University. After graduation, she married Curry B. Richards Sr. and taught elementary school for more than 40 years in the Suffolk school system. She was a lifelong member of Oxford Methodist Church and taught Sunday school there as well as serving as president of United Methodist Women. 
Florence Richards was predeceased by her husband, Curry B. Richards Sr., and her son, Frank A. Richards. She is survived by a sister, Ella A. Cross of Suffolk; a son, Curry B. Richards Jr. and his wife Loretta of Sumter, S.C.; a daughter-in-law, Frances E. Richards of Suffolk; and three grandchildren, Mary Alice Sutherlin and Joyce R. Gardner, both of Greenville, S.C., and Barry A. Richards of Charlottesville. She is also survived by a great-grandson, Brett Sutherlin, and a stepgreat-grandson, Justin Gardner, both of Greenville, S.C.; a niece, Sarah Cross Eyre of Richmond; and a nephew, Joseph M. Cross of Williamsburg. 
A graveside service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Cedar Hill Cemetery by the Rev. Clifton Whitlock. The family will receive friends at the home of her sister, Ella A. Cross, 505 Jones St. 
Memorial donations in lieu of flowers should be made to the Oxford United Methodist Church Memorial Fund, 601 W. Washington St., Suffolk, VA 23434. R.W. Baker and Co. Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. 
Edition: FINAL
Page: B8
Copyright (c) 2001 The Virginian-Pilot


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––– Narrative Summary of the Obituary –––

Florence Ashburn Richards, 91, of Suffolk, born 7 Jan 1910, spent her life there as a longtime elementary school teacher and church leader, and died in Suffolk on 29 Apr 2001.

A graveside service for Florence Ashburn Richards was held at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Suffolk at 11 a.m. on 1 May 2001, officiated by the Rev. Clifton Whitlock.

––– Transcript –––

FLORENCE W. ASHBURN RICHARDS

Virginian-Pilot, The (Norfolk, VA) - Monday, April 30, 2001

Florence A. Richards 
SUFFOLK - Florence Ashburn Richards, 91, died Sunday, April 29, 2001, in Suffolk after a lengthy illness. She was born Jan. 7, 1910, in Suffolk, where she lived her entire life. She was the daughter of the late Mamie and Harvey Ashburn. She graduated from State Teachers College in Farmville, now Longwood University. After graduation, she married Curry B. Richards Sr. and taught elementary school for more than 40 years in the Suffolk school system. She was a lifelong member of Oxford Methodist Church and taught Sunday school there as well as serving as president of United Methodist Women. 

Florence Richards was predeceased by her husband, Curry B. Richards Sr., and her son, Frank A. Richards. She is survived by a sister, Ella A. Cross of Suffolk; a son, Curry B. Richards Jr. and his wife Loretta of Sumter, S.C.; a daughter-in-law, Frances E. Richards of Suffolk; and three grandchildren, Mary Alice Sutherlin and Joyce R. Gardner, both of Greenville, S.C., and Barry A. Richards of Charlottesville. She is also survived by a great-grandson, Brett Sutherlin, and a stepgreat-grandson, Justin Gardner, both of Greenville, S.C.; a niece, Sarah Cross Eyre of Richmond; and a nephew, Joseph M. Cross of Williamsburg. 

A graveside service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Cedar Hill Cemetery by the Rev. Clifton Whitlock. The family will receive friends at the home of her sister, Ella A. Cross, 505 Jones St. 

Memorial donations in lieu of flowers should be made to the Oxford United Methodist Church Memorial Fund, 601 W. Washington St., Suffolk, VA 23434. R.W. Baker and Co. Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. 

––– Vital Statistics –––

|-------------------------------------------|
| Name  | Florence Ashburn Richards         |
| Age   | 91                                |
| Birth | 7 January 1910; Suffolk, Virginia |
| Death | 29 April 2001; Suffolk, Virginia  |
|-------------------------------------------|

––– Table of Relationships –––

|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Name                      | Relationship                        | Residence                  |
|---------------------------|-------------------------------------|----------------------------|
| Florence Ashburn Richards | Decedent                            | Suffolk, Virginia          |
| Curry B. Richards Sr.     | Predeceased husband                 | [Not stated]               |
| Frank A. Richards         | Predeceased son                     | [Not stated]               |
| Mamie Ashburn             | Mother                              | [Not stated]               |
| Harvey Ashburn            | Father                              | [Not stated]               |
| Ella A. Cross             | Sister                              | Suffolk, Virginia          |
| Curry B. Richards Jr.     | Son                                 | Sumter, South Carolina     |
| Loretta Richards          | Daughter-in-law (wife of Curry Jr.) | Sumter, South Carolina     |
| Frances E. Richards       | Daughter-in-law (widow of Frank)    | Suffolk, Virginia          |
| Mary Alice Sutherlin      | Granddaughter                       | Greenville, South Carolina |
| Joyce R. Gardner          | Granddaughter                       | Greenville, South Carolina |
| Barry A. Richards         | Grandson                            | Charlottesville, Virginia  |
| Brett Sutherlin           | Great-grandson                      | Greenville, South Carolina |
| Justin Gardner            | Stepgreat-grandson                  | Greenville, South Carolina |
| Sarah Cross Eyre          | Niece                               | Richmond, Virginia         |
| Joseph M. Cross           | Nephew                              | Williamsburg, Virginia     |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|

––– Publication Details –––

|---------------------------------|
| Field    | Value                |
|----------|----------------------|
| Location | Norfolk, Virginia    |
| Name     | Virginian-Pilot, The |
| Date     | 30 April 2001        |
| Edition  | FINAL                |
| Section  | B                    |
| Page     | B8                   |
|---------------------------------|

––– Other Relevant Information –––

• She graduated from State Teachers College in Farmville, now Longwood University.  
• She taught elementary school in the Suffolk school system for more than 40 years.  
• She was a lifelong member of Oxford Methodist Church.  
• She taught Sunday school at Oxford Methodist Church.  
• She served as president of United Methodist Women at her church.  
• R.W. Baker and Co. Funeral Home handled arrangements.  
• Birth name was Florence W. Ashburn

[See also:
www.findagrave.com/memorial/135259028/florence-richards
www.findagrave.com/memorial/135554476/curry_brown-richards
]

[Contributed by Bruce Saunders, bs4403@verizon.net]

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