Mildred Virginia Richards

Mildred Virginia Richards, the oldest daughter of the late Larkin W. Smith, Sr. and Virginia J. Smith, was called to eternal rest on November 30, 2011 at the Blue Ridge Residential Center in Winchester. She will be remembered as a loving daughter, devoted wife a doting mother and grandmother, and endearing sibling, and a caring aunt, relative Christian and friend.

“Mimmie,” as she was affectionately called by everyone, was born in Front Royal on August 22, 1926. It was later discovered that she was hearing and speech impaired. Despite those handicapping conditions, she was educated by two dynamic and legendary teachers: Mrs. Hilda Barbour and Mrs. Ressie Jeffries. She learned to communicate and to function at an extremely remarkable level that sustained her throughout her life. She was religiously educated at John Wesley Methodist Church.

She had been employed as a nursing home aide and as a housekeeper. She was a talented beautician whose hobbies included cooking, sketching, tending flowers and watching her favorite soap operas. Minnie was the personification of goodness, devotion, warmth and other traits that characterize a true child of God.

She leaves to rejoice in her memory, her husband, Robert Richards; her son, Robert Smith and his wife Sheila; two grandchildren, Devin Smith (Teketia) and Cori Holiness (Rodney); three great-grandchildren, Jadelyn, William and Kaleb Smith; two sisters, Mary Spriggs and Bernice Easley (John); and one brother, Willard Smith (Phyllis). (She was predeceased by two brothers and two sisters.) Additional survivors include her mother-in-law, Etta B. Richards; three step-children, Robin Richards, Vanessa Richards and Robert Richards, Jr.; eight step-grandchildren; two step-great-grandchildren; two brothers-in-law, Daniel and Willis Richards; and one sister-in-law, Andrea Jones. A host of adoring nieces, nephews, cousins, and beloved friends will long remember and honor the life and legacy of our dear “Mimmie”.