Darlenette Richardson, the daughter of Fred and Geneva Hicks, was born April 1, 1941 in Urbana, Ark.
She graduated from Gardner High School in Strong, Ark. and earned an associate’s degree at Philander Smith College in Little Rock, Ark., where she studied business administration and also spoke French.
Mother Richardson moved to Portland shortly after college and became very much a part of her extended family in Oregon. She married Elder Merrill Richardson on Jan. 15, 1974. She had two children and 10 grandchildren. She loved the Lord and was faithful to her church where she was filled with the Baptism of the Holy Ghost at the age of 8iunder the leadership of Pastor Cook at the Church of God in Christ in Strong.
During Mother Richardson’s early years of serving at the St. Paul Church of God in Christ under the leadership of Bishop J. C. Foster, she joyously enjoyed singing in the choir and was one of the lead singers. In addition, she worked with the youth; and using her God given talents, she helped to form the children’s singing group known as the Starlites, and also wrote, directed and produced plays.
In her dedicated faithfulness in the service of the Lord, Mother Richardson later received license of certification as Evangelist Missionary in the Church of God in Christ. From that time, she began to launch out into other ministries.
In 1975, she wrote and produced an album “The Lamb’s Cry” and sponsored a summer feeding program for children. Telecast Ministry was introduced to her in 1984 by her good friend whom she often referred to as her pastor—Pastor Mary Overstreet, (Telecast Ministries comprised of such programs as the Richardson Family Praise Hour and Prayer Center Variety Gospel Hour). She was appointed Shepherdess by the late Bishop H. B. Daniels Sr. on April 2, 1987. Mother Richardson held gospel concerts in Canada and traveled abroad where she visited the Holy Land and was baptized in the Jordan River.
She leaves to mourn her children, Lamar and Angie (Kevin) of Portland; granddaughter, Loretta; grandsons, Anthony, Gabrielle, Kevin, Nevin, Michael, David, Christopher, Jeremiah and Joseph; siblings, Curtis, Larry, Pearl, and Virgie Sue, all of Arkansas, Zella of Oakland, Calif., Godsister, Zola Harris of Portland; and a host of family, friends and loved ones.
Arrangements by Neal’s Compassionate Heart Funeral Home.
