On December 20 ^th , 1934, a Christmas package arrived early at the home of Clara Walker and Alfred Charles Richardson. It was delivered in Wewoka, Oklahoma in the form of a bundle, wrapped in love. It was a precious little baby boy-their first-born son. They called him little A.C., an acronym for Alfred Charles. Later, brothers and sisters joined this family.

A.C. was the first of ten siblings: Johnnie, Catherine, Wellington "Boobie", Barbara, Joyce, Betty, Raymon, Tommie, and Cora Lee. Due to an unfortunate accident that took the life of his father at an early age, he was thrust into a position of not just an older brother, but also as a father figure to all his younger siblings.

This responsibility prevented him from entering school until his eighth grade year. Despite his late insertion into public schools, A.C. graduated as valedictorian of the Dunjee High School Class of 1954. He also served as the class president, and he was selected to play in the last (all black) Oklahoma All State high school football game.

Following graduation, A.C. enrolled at Langston University. Despite his size and stature, he excelled as a member of the Lions football team during all four years of his college career. He also became a member of the Beta Kappa chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. in March 1956. He graduated from Langston University in 1958 with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Arts.

Immediately following graduation, A.C. enlisted into the United States Army and served two tours of active duty, where he was stationed within the U.S. and in Germany. He then went on to serve an additional two years in the Army Reserves. After four years of service, he received an honorable discharge in 1964. In 1964, during his last few months of serving in the Army Reserves, he was hired as a teacher and coach at Taft Moton High School, with his lifelong friend Alexander "Bo" Springs. His new career at Taft brought a lot more than new career opportunities. Perhaps most importantly, he met the love of his life, Dee Gardner, who was also a teacher at the high school. They were married a few months later in Summit, Oklahoma on August 15, 1964.

In 1967, A.C. received a Master of Science in Vocational Arts from Oklahoma State University, thus elevating his teaching career from industrial education to vocational carpentry. Following the birth of his second son, he changed his teaching location to Central High School in Muskogee, Oklahoma, where he instructed students in vocational cabinet making. He continued for an additional 18 years.

His classroom was known as the barbershop of the high school, where you could find students receiving literal haircuts, deep conversations on current events, and sermons on life lessons. To his students, he was known as "Prof." often regarded as the "professor of opportunity," he was an ambassador for making the most out of any situation. He truly believed that the dimness of your past did not have to reflect the brightness of your future. He taught carpentry until retiring in May of 1988.

In addition to his professional accolades, A.C.'s personal life was far more rewarding. His union with Dee encompassed 54 wonderful years. It also produced two boys: Allyn Christopher in 1966 and Adrian Charles in 1970, and would later result in three grandchildren: Kristen, Arrion, and Ma'Kalynn.

A.C. accepted Christ at an early age. He had a deep love for God and served God throughout his entire life. He is a former member of Fairview Baptist Church in Cromwell, Oklahoma. He later became a member of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, where he served on the usher board and also delivered the welcome addresses each Sunday.

Aside from family and career, A.C. participated in several extracurricular activities. He served as a basketball official for the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association (OSSAA) for more than 25 years. In addition, he was a loyal member of the Morning Optimist Club. Through his membership, he earned several publication awards for his work with the club's newsletters. He enjoyed bowling, carpentry, cooking, and listening to jazz music. He was also an advocate of saving. Any loose change or bills found were added to his personal collection, but not before he inserted a special "crease" which would always help him distinguish his money for safe keeping. He was a living example that the key to financial freedom was saving and budgeting.

In every facet of A.C.'s life, he was a leader. Although a man of few words, his actions spoke much louder. He always believed that you could accomplish anything that you prepared for with hard work and dedication, and he exemplified this throughout his life.

Those who preceded him in death were his parents, his brothers, Johnnie Richardson and Wellington "Boobie" Richardson, and one sister, Betty Martin.

He leaves to honor and celebrate his life his beloved wife, Dee Richardson; two sons, Allyn (Rachel) Richardson of Oklahoma City, OK, and Adrian Richardson of Muskogee, OK; three grandchildren, Kristen (LaVelle) Compton of Oklahoma City, OK, and Arrion and Ma'Kalynn Richardson of Muskogee, OK; four sisters, Catherine N. Richardson of Las Vegas, NV, Barbara J. Miller (Richardson), Joyce A. Richardson (Kwame) Mumina, and Cora Kemp (Larry) Epps, all of Oklahoma City, OK; two brothers, Raymon Taylor of Kansas City, KS, and Tommie J. Taylor of Oklahoma City, OK; and a host of other relatives and friends.

A Service of Memory, will be conducted, Friday, March 23, 2018 at 11 a.m. in Harvest Ministries Church, 2200 E. Okmulgee St. Muskogee, OK. Interment to follow in Ft. Gibson National cemetery, with military honors.


Visitation will be Thursday, March 22, 2018, 1:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.


The family has been cared for by House of Winn Funeral Home, Muskogee.