Mildred Earnestine Richardson

Mildred Earnestine Richardson, the daughter of the late Porter and Bonnie Richardson, was born January 24, 1935, in the Gresham Community of Marion County, South Carolina.

She departed this life on Sunday, August 27, 2023, at MUSC Health Florence Medical Center in Florence. 

Earnestine was the second of 10 siblings. She attended the public school in Marion County. She graduated from Terrell Bay High School in 1957. She attended Marion Vocational School. She received a certificate in Cake Decoration. Earnestine loved her flowers, and she loved to work outside. She loved to say, “Lord help us all. Thank you for the good and the bad.” She also loved to say, “Jesus, Jesus.” She would ask her sister Virginia, “Is I am going to work today at Marvel Lighting Company?” Earnestine worked at Marvel and Supreme Lighting Company for over 30 plus years. She was a member of the Bethel A.M.E. Church in Brittons Neck. She joined the Palmetto Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star in 1975. She was an active member until her health failed; 48 years of service she rendered.

Preceding her in death are her parents, Porter and Bonnie Richardson; four siblings: sisters, Susie Woodberry of Atlantic City, NJ and Deborah Ann Gerald of Rochester, NY; her two brothers, William Levern, and Joseph Richardson, both of Mullins; and two nephews.

Earnestine leaves to cherish sweet memories, three sisters: Virginia Richardson of the home, Ruth Reaves and her daughter, Tanya, Mary Williams Johnson and her husband, Zell, of Mullins, and an adopted sister, Hernetta Yates of Marion; her two brothers: Franklin Richardson of the home, and Charlie Lee Richardson of Charlotte, NC; her caretaker, Ms. Crystal Cooper of Marion, SC; a host of nieces, great nieces, great nephew, other relatives, cousins, and friends; an aunt, Martha Richardson of Marion; and a sister-in-law, Annie Mae Richardson of Mullins.

Funeral services will be held Saturday afternoon, September 2 at Mt. Ararat Baptist Church in Mullins, directed by Cox-Collins Funeral Home of Mullins. Entombment will follow at Red Hill Memorial Gardens Cemetery Mausoleum.