Richard McLAURENCE Antoine

Richard McLaurence Antoine of Chino, California passed away peacefully on September 8, 2025 at the
age of 82 and went on to claim his rightful place with his heavenly Father. Richard was an amazing man
of God that loved the Lord and spent his entire lifetime serving out his purpose of helping others. He
was a kind, caring and giving person that donated not only his resources but time to help brighten the
lives and provide opportunities for undeserved children and adults both in his daily life and around the
world.
Richard was born on March 14, 1943 to Connell and Sybil Antoine in Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies.
He was born into a loving family and enjoyed a tremendous childhood and early adulthood that
established the foundation of many of the passions of his life: God, teaching, music and athletics.
Richard was an obedient and loving son and served as a caring big brother not only to his siblings but
many of his cousins as well. His early Christian walk started during his youth and was also influenced by
his time attending St. Mary's College. Upon graduating from St. Mary's, Richard would enroll in Mausica
Teacher's College to sharpen his teaching talents that would serve him for a lifetime. He was also an
accomplished athlete in both soccer and track, as well as amazing musician which founded the band
Kentones which played at various festivals and events around Trinidad and Tobago.
In 1967 he came to Fresno, California to attend college and live with his uncle Dr. Noel Smith. During this
transformational period in his life, he was able to earn his bachelor's and master's degree from Fresno
State University, fell in love with and married Addie Harris and became a US citizen. During their time in
Fresno the couple were blessed to have three sons, Richard Jr., Stephen and Joseph. The young family
overcame the tragic death of Stephen as a newborn and after a brief stint of living in New York, the
family eventually moved back to California and settled in Moreno Valley. Many amazing memories were
shared together as a family until the tragic loss of his beloved Addie to cancer in 1984, and Richard was
faced with the daunting challenge of raising his sons as a single parent. Thus, to be closer to home and
raise his boys Richard decided to leave the corporate accounting jobs he had been previously working
and lean back into his teaching roots and started working in the Moreno Valley Unified School District.
Richard worked throughout the district for several years in various capacities as not only a teacher but
as a soccer and track coach. While working in these roles he established an amazing friendship with one
of his peers, Dorothy Batiste, that would eventually blossom into a romance. The couple would
ultimately get married and form a dynamic educational powerhouse duo that was committed to
providing educational opportunities for undeserved kids from Southern California to Bullhead City,
Arizona. Together they were able to achieve many amazing accomplishments including starting their
own learning center in Bullhead City which provided innovative online learning options for their
students. They also enjoyed an active church life in which they committed to serving the Lord with their
many gifts and talents. The couple was devoted to one another until her passing in 2013, after which
Richard stayed in Bullhead City. Richard would spend the next season of his life reconnecting with a lot
of his Trinidadian roots while continuing to teach at Mojave Accelerated Learning Center until his
retirement in 2024 and as an active member of the Amazing Grace Church.
Richard's life was a model of what it means to be a servant of others. He was a warm, kind and patient
person that matured in his walk with the Lord as he sought to fulfill the calling of Jesus on his life. He
blessed the lives of so many people with his wisdom and generosity, and he left a legacy for those that
knew him.
Richard was preceded in death by his parents (Connell and Sybil Antoine), wives (Addie Antoine and
Dorothy Batiste-Antoine, and son (Stephen Antoine). He leaves behind four siblings, Montey Antoine
(Carol), Anthony Antoine (Glenda), Jacqueline Edwards, Marva Frederick (Thomas); six children, Richard
Antoine Jr (Daphne), Joseph Antoine, Lamar Batiste, Kimberly Johnson, Kenneth Patterson, Lisa Batiste;
two grandchildren, Da'Jhana Antoine, Denae Turner (Jonte); one great grandchild, Jaxson Turner; his
very special friend Joy Valdez and a host of other family and friends.