Mrs. Dolly W. Richards, of Suffolk, Va., a “silent servant,” answered her call on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2009 at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. Dolly is survived by her loving husband, George L. Richards; two children, Dolly R. Bowden (Jimmy), of Stafford, Va., and George L. Richards Jr. (Diane), of Farmington Hills, Mich. She is also survived by her sister, Pearl R. Flowers (Delbert), of Gaithersburg, Md., and grandchildren, Delano F. Lipscombe II (Crystal), DeAnna R. Lipscombe, George L. Richards III, Ebony V. Bowden, and Curtis T. Bowden, along with two great-grandchildren. She is predeceased by her father, Charles H. Wilson, and mother, Pearl E. Wilson; brothers, Charles H. Wilson Jr. and George T. Wilson, and a grandchild, Paul B. Martin. She will be greatly missed by a host of other loving relatives and friends.
Dolly was a long and faithful member of First Baptist Church, Mahan Street, Suffolk, where she was a deaconess as well as a faithful servant on many church committees. Dolly was a retired educator with Suffolk Public Schools, a member of the Suffolk Retired Teachers Association, Bennett College Alumni, and Commissioner of the Suffolk Clean City Commission, and member of Suffolk Sister City International, as well as many other community service committees and organizations. She was also a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., The LaVogue Club and The Game Club.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2009 at noon at First Baptist Church, Mahan Street, Suffolk, where the Rev. Steven Blunt will be officiating. Interment will be immediately following at Carver Memorial Cemetery, Suffolk. Alpha Kappa Alpha Memorial Service will be held at the church on Friday from 7 to 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church, Caring and Sharing Ministries, 112 Mahan St. Suffolk, VA 23434; or The American Cancer Society, Suffolk Chapter, “Relay for Life,” 4416 Express Way Dr., Virginia Beach, VA 23452. There will be no public viewing. Professional services have been entrusted to Harris Funeral Home, Inc., 685 Carolina Road, Suffolk. Condolences can be sent to www.vharrisfuneralhome.com.