She was born in Prentiss, Mississippi on February 14, 1931 to Stanley Paul Bass and Lillian Polk Bass. She was a graduate of Prentiss High School and moved to Tuscaloosa soon after graduation. She was employed by Gulf States Paper for several years before marriage and later in life worked in the University of Alabama Division of Student Housing where she enjoyed associating with the students. She loved her family, her community, and her church where she taught generations of children and young people for over forty years.
She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 58 years John Dewey Richardson, Jr.; sisters, Grace LaNelle Lane, Jane Caroline Williams, and a brother Joe Don Bass.
She is survived by her children; son John S. Richardson (Suzanne) of Vestavia Hills, Alabama; daughter Stephanie Layne Richardson of Tuscaloosa, Alabama; grandchildren Kristen Richardson Smith (Jason) of Vestavia Hills, Alabama and John Tyler Richardson (Kelsey) of Homewood, Alabama; great grandchildren Ben and Sam Smith, Hank and Matt Richardson, and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends Monday, January 16, 2022 at Mt. Olive Baptist Church from 12:00PM until 1:00PM with the Celebration of Life Service following at 1:00PM. Interment will follow in the Church Cemetery with Stan Henson officiating, Sunset Brown Funeral Home Directing.
Grandsons and nephews will serve as pallbearers.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to Tonya Smith, Betty Hambright, Haley Smith, Mary Porter, Amedisys Home Health Care and Amedisys Hospice Care for the wonderful care that they extended over the last several years. You made a tremendous difference in the quality of her life.
Mary Paul was truly a great wife, mother, and grandmother. She had a strong faith in Christ which served as the center of her life and guided her path. She will be deeply missed by those who loved her.
In Lieu of Flowers the family requests that donations be made in her memory to Mt. Olive Baptist Church Cemetery Fund at 13303 Mount Olive Road, Coker, AL 35452.
Sunset Brown-Service Funeral Home, a Dignity Memorial Provider, is honored to serve the Richardson family during their time of bereavement. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.SunsetBrown-Funeral.com
