We are here to celebrate the life of Lilla Hylton Richards, born March 1, 1934 in Tela, Honduras, to loving and God-fearing parents, the late Levi Christopher and Hyacinth Hylton. She was the eighth of thirteen children and the fifth of the ten who grew to adulthood.
At an early age, a beloved family friend, the late Mrs. May Henry, took Lilla to Jamaica. She was 8 years old when her mother died. On December 25, 1948, she was baptized at the Regent Street Seventh-day Adventist Church in Kingston, Jamaica.
In 1952, she returned to Honduras after hurricane Charley devastated Jamaica in late 1951. She spent 18 months there, before migrating to the United states in March of 1954.
In 1957, Lilla married Lawrence E. Richards who preceded her in death. That union bore 2 children, LaSalle, a retired New York City Police Officer and LaVerda, an optometrist who resides in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Lilla was an active member of the Ephesus Seventh-day Adventist Church in New York, where she served as Sabbath School Superintendent and Church Clerk.
After 18 years of employment in the accounting Department of a Subsidiary of the New York Telephone Company (Empire City Subway Company, LTD), she retired November 1991 and relocated to the Sunshine State of Florida. Her membership was later transferred from the Ephesus Church in New York City, NY to the North Orlando Seventh-day Adventist Church, Orlando, Florida, where she was an active member of Sabbath School (class #4), Women's Ministries, Community Service, Sabbath School Superintendent and the Seniors Department.
In 1999, under the leadership of Pastor Fred E. White, North Orlando Church was in the process of burning it's mortgage. Lilla was assigned to the Journal Committee, and was instrumental in raising funds and soliciting advertisements. She was very passionate in doing the Lord's work.
During Pastor Carl E. Ware's tenure at North Orlando, and upon the death of a church member, while visiting with the bereaved family, he would observe the needs of the family. He later appointed Lilla to aid families with their bereavement needs. Subsequently, Lilla who loved to help others, would always make herself readily available to assist bereaved families with funeral arrangements. She would spend countless hours ensuring that the families needs were met.
On Saturday, November 3, 2018. Lilla exited the stage of life at approximately 11:55 P>M>
Left to fondly recall the times of her life are: the family of Doreen and Howard English, Orlando, FL; son, LaSalle Richards, Springfield Gardens, NY; daughter, LaVerda Richards, West Chester, PA; brother, Wesley G. Hylton (Frances), Wesley Chapel, FL; sisters, Westeria Ottley (Gladstone), Miami, FL; Melba Lockwood, Brooklyn, NY; Hyacinth Thomas, Miami, FL; Marva Murray (Carlos) Ft. Lauderdale, FL; sisters-in-law, Jean & Mavis Richards, Kendal, Miami, FL; nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, friends and her church family.
