Almenia Richardson

Almenia Benbow Richardson, wife of the late Leon Norman Richardson, passed on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2014, at Sumter Health and Rehabilitation Center of Sumter. Born in Williamsburg County, she was a daughter of the late James Benbow and Bertha Filmore Benbow.

She was educated in the Williamsburg County public schools and was a graduate of Tomlinson High School in Kingstree. She earned a bachelor of science degree from Allen University of Columbia and in 1976 a master’s degree from the University of South Carolina. She did further studies with the University of Iowa and South Carolina State College in Orangeburg.

Almenia began her teaching career at Liberty Street Elementary School and in later years at Alice Drive Elementary School, where she remained and retired after 42 years of service. After retirement, her love for teaching continued with both Head Start of Sumter and Shaw Air Force Base Head Start program.

Almenia’s professional affiliations were numerous and included: South Carolina National and American Education and Parent Teachers Associations (PTA) and the International Reading Association. She was a Golden Life member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.; a founding member of Eta Zeta Omega Chapter of Sumter and Camden, coordinator of Reading is Fundamental (RIF) Services and adviser instrumental in the chartering of Nu Gamma Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. of Morris College of Sumter.

Almenia attended Mount Pisgah AME Church and later joined Emmanuel United Methodist and served faithfully as a Sunday School teacher and with the United Methodist Women.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her sister Mozella Bristow and three brothers-in-law.

Surviving are: three sisters, Mable Davis of Wilton, Conn., Theresa Smalls of Georgetown and Inez Washington of Sumter; a brother, Franklin (Geneva) Benbow of Philadelphia, Pa.; three sisters-in-law, Edna Richardson and Azalee Richardson of Sumter and special caretaker, Berthenia R. Willis of Tallulah, La.; Elizabeth White, a dedicated caretaker of the home; a special niece, Deborah Coleman Calhoun, who is like a daughter; and a host of other relatives.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Emmanuel United Methodist Church, South Main and Bee Streets, Sumter, with the Rev. Doris R. Bright, officiating, and the Rev. Willie F. Dicks Jr., eulogist. The public may view on Friday from 1 to 6 p.m. at Palmer Memorial Chapel, 304 S. Main St., Sumter.

The sorority’s Ivy Beyond the Wall Service will be from 7 to 8 p.m. on Friday.

Mrs. Richardson will be placed in the church at noon for viewing until the hour of service. Interment will follow in Hillside Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at the residences of her sister, Inez Washington, 509 Dicks St., and Deborah Coleman Calhoun, 819 Club Lane, Sumter.

Memorial tributes may be made to: Education Advancement Foundation of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., PO Box 1444, Sumter, SC 29151.

Palmer Memorial Chapel Inc. is in charge of the arrangements. Please leave condolences for the family on the website: www.palmermemorialchapel.com.