Ivory Lee Richardson

Mr. Ivory Lee Richardson, born on January 5, 1934, near Goldsboro, NC, departed this earthly life on January 8, 2025, after celebrating his 91st birthday.

Ivory celebrated a life full of rich experiences, while keeping kindness and service to others at the forefront of everything he set out to do.

Ivory was the son of the late Isaac Richardson and Eula Sherrod Richardson. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Brownie Horne Richardson, two grandsons, Desmond Harris and Tonray Marshall, and six sisters, Beulah Howard, Margaret Walden, Peggy Coachman, Erlene Richardson, DeLois Richardson and Minnie Pierce. Ivory was also preceded in death by his second wife, Betty Butler Richardson.

Ivory received his early education in Wayne County Public Schools and later received his high school diploma from Peabody Academy in Troy, NC. In 1954, he enlisted in the United States Army and served a tour in Korea as a military policeman. In 1966, Ivory began working for the NC Dept of Corrections as an officer and retired as a Captain in 1994. While working full time, he began taking classes at Montgomery Technical Institute where he earned his associate degree in business administration. He later was appointed to the board of Trustees of what is now known as Montgomery Community College. Ivory was a devoted member of Troy Chapel AME Zion Church for approximately 45 years, and later attended Pleasant Hill AME Zion Church in Candor, NC. His hobbies included hunting, fishing, going to football games, traveling, and spending time with his family.

To cherish his memory are, his wife of twenty-four years of the home, Flora C. Richardson; two sons, Ivory Richardson, Jr. (Talanda) of Woodbridge, VA, and Tony Richardson of Ellerbe, NC; two daughters, Loretta Carpenter (Sarwarii) of Spring Lake, NC, and Elizabeth Harris of Orange Park, FL; two sisters, Edith Baldwin of Kenley, NC, and Devone Brown of Temple Hills, MD; six grandchildren; sixteen greatgrandchildren; and four great-great grandchildren; two stepchildren, Michael Williams (Alicia) of Graham, NC, and Heather D. Brower (Eddie) of Aberdeen, NC; five step grandchildren; three step greatgrandchildren, and many other relatives and friends.