Obituary of Thomas B. Richardson, Jr.

Funeral service for Thomas B. “Tom” Richardson, Jr., 92, of Talladega will be Thursday, June 16, 2016 at 2:00 pm at The First United Methodist Church of Talladega. The Rev. Minnie Bailey will officiate. The family will receive friends in the church parlor one hour before the service. Graveside service will follow at 4:30 pm at Elmwood Cemetery in Birmingham, AL. Mr. Richardson passed away June 14, 2016, at his home. Thomas is preceded by his wife of 62 years, Elaine Lambeth Richardson, sister, Virginia Richardson Hickerson, and parents, Thomas and Rosa Richardson. Tom was born in Clinton, Mississippi and graduated from Ramsey High School in Birmingham. During World War II he served in the Navy as a pilot and flight instructor. He returned to Alabama where he was a member Sigma Nu fraternity at the University of Alabama and met his wife-to-be Elaine. After graduation from the University, they lived in Birmingham from 1948-1964. He worked with his father at TB Richardson Lumber Company for eight years. He was employed by the Soderhamn/ Kockums Machine Manufacturing Corporation for thirty-four years, serving as president from 1964 until his retirement in 1989. Tom was a member of Canterbury Methodist Church in Birmingham. In Talladega, he was an active member of the First United Methodist Church for fifty-two years. He served in many capacities while at FUMC; among them were the FUMC Board Foundation, Finance Committee, and Council. Active in civic life, Tom served as president of the Talladega Chamber of Commerce, Talladega Country Club, and Kiwanis Club, where he also served as District Lieutenant Governor. He served the First Bank of Alabama on its Board of Directors for thirty-six years. Tom was an avid hunter and fisherman, spending many days on the lake and in the forest. He was a skilled woodworker, specializing in Christmas manger scenes (crèches) and giving more than 100 to local churches and friends during his twenty-seven years of retirement. A prolific artist and painter, his work placed first in a juried art competition in Pensacola, Florida. He and Elaine loved to travel together, and he made more than 150 trips to Europe for his work. His family and friends will especially remember how he cherished them and was faithful to his church. Survivors include his son, Thomas B. Richardson III, and his wife Emily, daughter, Joy Richardson Smith and her husband Frank, grandchildren, Martha Anderson (Andy), Lindsay Elaine Richardson, and Richardson James Smith, sister, Christine Richardson Reynolds, as well as several nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be Andy Anderson, Dewayne Clark, Cleve Jacobs, Julian King, Bill McGehee, and Tommy Spears. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to First UMC of Talladega, 400 East Street South, Talladega, AL 35160. Online condolences may be offered at www.usreyfuneralhome.com