Dorothy Lee Richardson

DOROTHY L. RICHARDSON was called home to rest on Tuesday, July 22, 2025. Now she has received her wings and found peace. Dorothy, daughter of the late Albert and Dessamore Cooper, was born December 17, 1939, in Rocky Mt., North Carolina. She received her education in Rocky Mt. Public Schools and graduated from John Washington Carver High School. Shortly after, she’d meet the person she would spend the rest of her life with, Edward Richardson. Dorothy later moved to Baltimore MD to pursue careers, and was united in Holy Matrimony to the late Edward Richardson in 1957. They were married for 61 years. From that bond two children were born, Bertram and Vanessa Richardson. Two sisters (Bessie Cooper, Eva Pittman), brother (William Cooper), son ( Bertram Richardson), husband (Edward Richardson) and grandson (Joshua Richardson) preceded her in death. She started working at Sears Roebuck & Co. in 1964. The personnel department was where she began her triumphant journey of employment. Because of the strong persistence of never being stuck in one position, when there was so much more out there to grab, she was promoted to sales manager at Security Mall because of her endurance of doing her best and it wasn’t overlooked or ignored. Dorothy was persistent with making sure her job was always correct and completed with no errors, especially if she had something to do with it. With diligently doing her job to the best of her ability, led to being promoted to Department Manager in Sears located in Columbia Mall. Receiving many more certificates of excellent job performance and communication for employment with Sears. In 1991 Dorothy retired after being with Sears for 27 years. That wasn’t the end of her employment travels. She then landed a job with The Restaurant Association of Maryland. She had so much more energy and life left to give, that she wasn’t ready to sit in her favorite chair and watch her game shows and stories. After working with them for years she finally retired from the workforce. Dorothy Richardson joined Mt. Ararat Baptist Church on July 12, 1957, under the leadership of Samuel B. Redd. She served on the Senior Choir, The Samuel B. and Ida M. Redd Scholarship Ministry, Trustee’s Ministry and was the Church Treasurer for over 30 years, a member for 68 years. Mt. Ararat was her 2nd family and I know she is grateful for having a community as such. There were only loving and happy words that anyone could say about Dorothy Richardson. She was a joyful, respected, and loving person who will be deeply missed. She leaves in loving memory: one daughter, Vanessa R. Richardson; seven grandchildren, Gia Richardson, Natasha D. Richardson, Keon Richardson, Sharieda Richardson, Bertram E. Richardson, Jasmine D. Richardson, Kiera S. Alston; eight great-grandchildren; five sisters, Gwendolyn Cooper of Sharpsburg, NC, Carolyn Batts (James), Shirley Cooper, Jeanette Chisel (Robert), Patricia Covington (Donnie), all of Rocky Mt., NC; and one brother, George Cooper of Rocky Mt., NC; nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.

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Dorothy Lee Richardson

December 17, 1936 - July 22, 2025