Vivian Richardson

Vivian Richardson was born in New York, New York on October 5, 1940, the first child of Jessie Taylor Webb Fenton. She attended Charles Evans Hughes High School in New York City which encouraged her love of the arts. Although she considered a career in the art or fashion industry, she decided on a more practical career to help her family. After graduation, she went to work at the Manhattan Borough President’s Office as a stenographer.

On February 8, 1964, Vivian married William V. Richardson, Jr. in Queens, New York. They were blessed with 4 children: Lauren, Renée, Mark, and Erin. They lived in Queens then later moved to Wheatley Heights, Long Island. Vivian worked at many places over the years as a secretary. She was so good at what she did that she progressed to Executive Secretary roles. She worked for many engineering companies in NY, Webber & Stephens, AIL, and Telephonics, to name a few. She was able to travel to places like Paris, France as perks of her duties.

While living in NY, Vivian was a past Worthy Matron in the Order of the Eastern Star and a past President of the Kiwanis Club. She loved helping out the community, and her children’s schools, and being involved with local events. Vivian loved baseball. When she was young, the Brooklyn Dodgers were her favorite baseball team. When she was older, she rooted for both the New York Mets and the New York Yankees. She encouraged her children in their extracurricular activities, from baseball to baton twirling. She took her children to many musical events from concerts at local parks, to Westbury Music Fair, to the Metropolitan Opera in Manhattan.

In 1998, when her husband retired, they moved to Palm Coast, FL where they made numerous friends and acquaintances. They joined the Friends of the Library, the African American Cultural Society (AACS), the Afro-American Caribbean Heritage Organization (AACHO), and the Grenadian Association. Vivian is featured in this article: https://aacspalmcoast.org/aacs-salutes-women-who-have-led-the-organization-over-the-past-30-years/ She was pivotal and made a difference in all of these organizations. Vivian continued to work at the Collage Companies, then at Daytona Beach Community College, before she retired to care for her husband when he was diagnosed with cancer.

After her husband died in 2004, Vivian decided to run for Palm Coast City Council. She was the first black woman ever to run for this office in Palm Coast. That was an exciting time in her life and a distraction from losing her husband. Vivian loved her family and spent most of her time with them and working for scholarships for the groups she was part of. She loved to be involved and help where she could.

Vivian loved to travel. She went to Paris, London, and Las Vegas. She took many trips to Trinidad & Tobago and traveled on many cruise lines. Vivian’s last big excursion was with her granddaughter, Ashlée Ryan, to China. She loved reading historical romance novels and watching classic movies or classic movie musicals. She loved classical music and watching or listening to opera.

Vivian was Methodist but raised her children, Catholic. Toward the end of her life, she decided to be Catholic, too. On February 28th, she was conditionally baptized Catholic. She received her last sacraments with great devotion, resigned to God’s will. While sleeping at home in Deltona, FL, Vivian left time and entered eternity at 3 am on May 6, 2024.

She is preceded in death by her mother, Jessie Webb Fenton, sister, Sylvia Fenton, brother, Stephen Fenton, husband, William V. Richardson, Jr. and daughter, Lauren V. Burrell.

She is survived by her siblings: Shirley (Welker) Calhoun, David (Vivian) Fenton, Reginald Fenton, Sr.; sister-in-law, Frances (Walter) Wright and brother-in-law, Frank (Marsha) Richardson; children: Renée (Jeffery) Hunt, Mark (Loren) Tirotta, Erin (Christopher) Smith of Bay Shore, NY; grandchildren: Skylar Tirotta, Daylen Holloman, William Gaines, Ashlée Ryan, Yenissa Smith, Jada Tirotta, Corey Hunt, Dante Tirotta, and Gerald Hunt; great-grandchildren: Xander Tirotta and Pamela Ryan; and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, family and friends.

The family would like to especially thank God for the priests and faithful at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Sanford, FL, Vitas Hospice Services (Lateshia, Carmen, Martina, Nurse Erin, and Nurse Kelly) and the Palm Coast and Deltona Fire Departments (wonderful and caring EMTs) for their stellar care and service.

Arrangements are in the care and trust of the Craig-Flagler Palms Funeral Home in Flagler Beach, FL.

Condolences may be sent to www.craigflaglerpalms.com