Obit – Mr. Ross Richardson
A kind, soft spoken, southern gentleman has departed this life to spend eternity away from the earthly journey he had so courageously been a part of for over 92 years.
Mr. Ross Richardson of the Beasleys Bend Community in Smith County, departed this life at the Maristone Retirement Center in Franklin, Tennessee on Friday evening May 29, 2026 and was pronounced deceased by Gentiva Hospice of Franklin at 4:08 p.m.
Family and friends assembled at the Bellwood Cemetery, 81 Bellwood Road, Lebanon, TN 37087, for graveside services which were scheduled for 1 p.m. Tuesday afternoon June 2nd. Matt Oxley, minister of the Rome Church of Christ, officiated. Burial followed beside his second wife, Bettye Talley Richardson.
The Richardson family received friends at the cemetery following the 1 p.m. graveside service. There was no visitation at the Carthage Chapel of Sanderson Funeral Home.
Born Ross Edwin Richardson in Reform in Pickens County, Alabama on December 29, 1933, he was the only child of the late Monroe Richardson who died on October 16, 1977 at the age of 64 and Margaret Erlene Connell Richardson who died June 6, 2006 at the age of 89.
Mr. Richardson was a 1952 graduate of Millport High School in Millport, Alabama and received his Bachelor of Science in Business Education and a minor in education at the Livingston State College in Livingston, Alabama.
His first career was in appliance sales and the last fifteen years before his retirement he was in automotive sales.
The mother of his three children, Shirley Ann Plyler Richardson, died on September 19, 1984 at the age of 48.
He was united in marriage in Springfield on September 14, 1989 to Lebanon native, the former Bettye Ann Talley Andrews. She preceded him in death on May 31, 2016 at the age of 80.
He was preceded in death by two grandchildren, Diane Lynne Bird who died at the age of 26 on April 16, 2005 and Courtney Deshea Andrews who died at the age of 33 on October 11, 2014.
Also, preceding him in death was a step-son, Mark Foster Andrews who preceded him in death at the age of 59 on October 5, 2016.
Mr. Richardson was a member of the Hartsville Church of Christ.
Mr. Richardson, with distinction, served our country during the Korean War with the United States Army having been inducted on July 14,1953 in Alabama and was honorably discharged with the rank of Corporal on April 13, 1956.
Surviving is Mr. Richardson’s three children, Lynn Richardson Bird and husband David of Smyrna, Elizabeth Richardson Kane of Nashville, Eddy Richardson and wife Connie of Brentwood; three step-children, David Andrews and wife Shelia of Pell City, Alabama, Jere Andrews and wife Wanda of the Tuckers Cross Roads Community, Carol Andrews of the Riddleton Community; twelve grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.
The Richardson family requests memorials to the Bellwood Cemetery Mowing Fund.
SANDERSON of CARTHAGE
