Edgar A. Richards Sr.

As long as we remember a person, they’re not really gone. Their thoughts, their feelings, their memories, they become a part of us.” Justin Cronin

Edgar Alexander Richards, Sr. passed away on Thursday, March 2, 2023 at the age of 86. After several months of declining health.

Edgar Alexander Richards, born on October 7, 1936, was the fifth of 10 children born to James Nathaniel Richards and Muriel Noble Richards. His formative years were spent in his birthplace of Calabar District, Trelawny, Jamaica, West Indies. 

Following his attendance at Rio Bueno Primary school, he went to join other family members in Kingston, Jamaica. Edgar did not have much formal education. He worked odd jobs starting at an early age. His work ethic and desire to be self-sustaining allowed him to use his inherited entrepreneurial skills to set up many small businesses while living in Jamaica. 

He migrated to the United States in 1971. He immediately started working at Pepperidge Farm. He kept this employment for several year, but his passion for entrepreneurship and owning a piece of the American Dream was a central focus culminating in the ownership of several successful businesses and rental properties. He opened Jimmy’s, a Caribbean Restaurant and Grocery store in New Rochelle, New York in 1977. Jimmy was a nickname given to him as a young child. Jimmy’s was a staple in the Caribbean community, providing many of his fellow Immigrants with the taste and culture of home. He passionately served this community for seventeen (17) years; he sold the business and returned home to Jamaica where he ran another successful business as a hotelier in Trelawny, Jamaica, West Indies. 

On July 23, 2005, he married Betty Reynolds. He enjoyed his new life, and moved to College Park, Georgia. Once again trying his hands  at entrepreneurship, he worked at ADT Security. He became one of their top salesman, winning numerous accolades and awards, while curating new friendship in Georgia. He is fondly remembered by many of those friends as one who loved his weekend dominoes games and sharing business savvy advice.

Summarizing a life is never easy. What words defines the essence of their character. Edgar A. Richard will be defined as a man with determination, grit, and an authentic will to try. He migrated to an unknown place and culture. He had ownership at a time when redlining and social inequality were standard practices that limited African America ownership and sustainable wealth.  However, he always put faith first and the will to try. And if and when he failed, he learned and simply tried again. Family and friends, to tether his memory to this world, please remember to authentically try by putting faith first and accepting lessons of failures that will help to shape and define your character. 

Edgar was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Basil Richards, Robert Richards and Osbourne Richards as well as sisters Valda Hughes and Gloria Brown.

Edgar is survived by his wife Betty Reynolds Richards, former wife Hilda May Richards and their children, Michael Richards, Edgar Richards Jr. (Wendy), Garfield Omar Richards, and Natalie Morisseau (Froebel). Sisters Cecelia Walker, FL, Vashtie Parkes and Hermine Coley, NY, brother Neville Richards, Toronto Canada, grandchildren Jovan Richards, Amaya Morisseau, Layla Morisseau, Breanna Richards, and many nieces, nephews and extended family members. 

A visitation for Edgar is planned for Friday, March 10, 2023, from 2 pm to 3 pm. The visitation will be at the Plummers Funeral Home on 4024 Covington Highway, Decatur Georgia. All family and friends are invited to attend. The family hopes you will join us in a celebration of life to be held at a later date in his homeland of Jamaica. 

Words are not enough to express our sorrows. However, your kind words, prayers and heartfelt condolences have helped tremendously. 

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