Christopher Earl Richardson

1967 - 2021

On 18 March 2021, New Orleans lost one of its native sons, and the world lost a unique and creative spirit. Born Christopher Earl Richardson in New Orleans on 1 December 1967 to Donald Lee Richardson of Mobile, Alabama and Brenda Richardson (formerly Reed) of New Orleans. "Raven", as he was later known, was always musically inclined like his father. Early in life, he showed a precocious talent for music, studying and mastering the trumpet, clarinet, French horn, and the xylophone during his teenage years. Christopher cherished his time as a Drum Major for the Belle Chase High School marching band in the late 1980s. Later, he sang, played the keyboards, and strummed a washboard for several bands that performed in the French Quarter and surrounding local areas. Never one to conform to cultural norms, Christopher cultivated a diverse group of friends and dabbled in a variety of endeavors. He joined the United States Army as a Korean linguist in the early 1990s and often spoke fondly of his time in Monterey, California at the Defense Language Institute, studying Korean language and culture. After his time in the service, he pivoted to Information Technology, earning his Bachelor of Science degree in computer science from ITT in San Antonio, Texas. He went on to work at several companies in Houston and San Antonio. Christopher is survived by his three younger brothers: Darris Richardson (Nadja) of Centreville, Virginia, Eric Richardson of Madison, Wisconsin, and Lyynel Reed Washington of Los Angeles, California; his mother Brenda, and stepfather Lionel Washington, his aunts: Barbara Montgomery, Ellen Allen (Vernon) and Terry Nelson; uncles Henry W Reed, Kevin Reed (Tracey), Ronald Frazier, Jarvis Frazier and Steven Reed, maternal grandmother Elizabeth Reed; nephews: Stone Richardson, Dominic Richardson, Killian Richardson; niece Aileen Richardson and a host of other relatives and friends. Preceded in death by his maternal grandfather Henry Reed Jr., maternal aunt Mary Jones, paternal grandmother Signa Frazier and paternal aunt Wyatt Frazier. Christopher will be interred on Monday, March 29, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. at Southeast Louisiana Veterans Cemetery, 34888 Grantham College Dr., Slidell LA 70460. May the Lord cause him to enter the garden of happiness, cleanse him with pure water and grant him to behold his splendors on the loftiest mount. Guestbook Online: www.anewtraditionbegins.com (504)282-0600. Linear Brooks Boyd and Donavin D. Boyd Owners/Funeral Directors.