James Thomas Richardson

1939 - 2022

James Thomas Richardson of 22 Reunion Hill Lane, Black Mountain, NC, died on December 6th, 2022. Two memorial services will be held: (1) Fort Hill Presbyterian Church in Clemson, SC, on Friday, December 9th at 4 pm. (2) Black Mountain Presbyterian Church in Black Mountain, NC on Saturday, December 10th at 4 pm. A time for visitation will be held following both services.

Born in Gainesville, Georgia, on April 13, 1939, Jim was the third child of Elizabeth Pentecost Richardson and John Neute Richardson. His brother John was six years older and his sister Betty was five years older. A Red Elephant graduate of Gainesville High school in 1957, Jim attended and graduated in 1961 from Davidson College in North Carolina and Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia in 1965. Ordained as a Presbyterian Minister in 1965 in Piedmont Presbytery, Jim served Presbyterian congregations in Anderson, South Carolina, Lutz, Florida, and Clemson, South Carolina. From 1967-1972 he worked as Director of Admissions and Financial Aid Officer at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia. After serving 27 years at Fort Hill Presbyterian Church in Clemson, Jim was honored with the title of Pastor Emeritus by the congregation and by Foothills Presbytery.

Jim was married for 52 years to Sally Gillespie Richardson and they had four children: Mary Leslie (died in infancy), John Randolph (w. Shanda) of Black Mountain, NC, David McGavock (w. Marnie Oursler) of Annapolis, MD, and Anna Pentecost Echols (w. Chad Echols) of Rock Hill, SC. His grandchildren are Emily, Riley, Guy, Liza, Laura James, and Picabo.

In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to the James T. and Sally Gillespie Richardson Endowment Fund at Columbia Theological Seminary, to Clemson Community Care in Clemson, SC or to the Swannanoa Valley Christian Ministry in Black Mountain, NC.