Rita Julia Richards

It is with deep sorrow and pride to tell you about Rita, Julia Lady-Dekay. Rita was born on 3rd February, 1957 at 8, Malta Street in the east end of Freetown. The name Rita was the result of a dream our maternal grandmother had before she was born. In that dream, grandma Harriette saw a little girl who came to visit her, and when she asked her, her name, she said she was called Rita. So it was that Rita named herself long before she was born. She was fondly called “Lady” or LA by family members and she was named after her uncle, Fredrick George Dekay Williams who was a very dear brother-in-law to Rita’s mom. Uncle Dekay passed 7 months before Rita was born. He died suddenly on his birthday, after hitting his head, went into a coma and died a few hours later. . Rita attended Christ Church primary school because her mom taught at the school but she later requested a transfer to Tower Hill municipal where her aunt taught. Rita grew up in a Christian home and her grandfather, Pastor Terry as he was popularly known was a Seventh day Adventist. Rita loved singing. She was a chorister at Portuguese town Methodist Church in the mid-60s. She never skipped Sunday School. She attended the Annie Walsh memorial school after which she worked in the finance department for a short while. Then she attended the Milton Margai Teachers college where she earned a degree in education specializing in English and Religious knowledge. Rita taught at Saint Helena Secondary school and the Sierra Leone Collegiate Secondary school until she left Sierra Leone to join Clifton Richards in December 1991. Rita got married to Clifton on her birthday February 3, 1992. Moving away from family was a challenge for Rita, she worked very hard to build relationships and created a loving home for her husband Clifton. Rita worked for the Alief School district as a Substitute teacher, she later changed her profession and worked for Corporate America and until her death was employed at Shell point Mortgage. Between January and July of 2015, Rita suffered from rheumatoid arthritis, it was a challenge but with the help of the Lord, Clifton and numerous friends she was able to pull through. During that trying time, she kept in touch with friends and family and tried to maintain her sense of humor. We prayed for total healing but On August 10th, 2015, God knew best and saw it fit to end her suffering. And so it was that Rita was no more. She came, shared and enjoyed her life with us and took her exit. We thank God for all those years we shared with her. We mourn with fond memories of those precious years and with the hope that she is in a better place where we will eventually see her. Rita was a friendly, fun-loving, vivacious, open, plain-spoken person who had a good and clean heart. She was not one to hold a grudge or bear malice. She would tell it as it is and move on. She had a great sense of humor which together with her infectious laughter, she utilized to remedy situations. She always saw the bright side of things. Rita was always very hospitable, dependable, loving, caring, offering to help whenever there was a need. She brought people together and made sure there was peace in the family. We will miss you dear Rita but sleep on, sleep on!!!