Richard Henry Perry

April 9, 1944 – January 2, 2018

Richard Henry Perry passed away peacefully on January 2, 2018 at Duke University Medical Center.

He was born on April 9, 1944 to Clayton and Elizabeth Perry in Atlanta, Georgia. He was the second of four children. Richard attended Decatur High School in Decatur, Georgia where he excelled in academics and athletics. During his senior year, he accepted a basketball scholarship to Carson-Newman College.

At Carson-Newman he concentrated on his major, business administration, and basketball. He used his summers to serve the Lord in places such as Camp Ridgecrest for Boys and as a missionary in the Caribbean. During his senior year, he was the captain of the basketball team and one of the leaders in scoring, rebounding and field goal percentage. Richard graduated in 1966.

After graduation, Richard volunteered to join the United States Army and completed Basic Training and Officer Candidate School (OCS) where he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. As the top overall graduate, Richard was chosen to stay and serve as an OCS instructor. Upon completing his assignment as an OCS drill instructor, Lieutenant Perry completed training as a Signal Corps Officer and then deployed to Vietnam for a one-year tour. While in country, he was promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant and received numerous medals and accommodations including the Bronze Star.

After completing his service in Vietnam in 1969, Richard began his career as a salesman. This career eventually led to a relocation to Mobile, Alabama. It was here that he met and married the love of his life, Mary Anna Willcox, on February 19, 1972 at Dauphin Way Baptist Church. Richard and Mary Anna were blessed with three children: Charles Clayton, John Stephen and Allison Irene. The family moved a few more times over the years to Florida, Georgia, New York, back to Florida and finally to North Carolina. During these years Richard served as a member and deacon in local Southern Baptist churches.

He was preceded in death by his parents Clayton Henry Perry and Elizabeth Staples Perry and his in-laws Charles Oliver Willcox and Irene Martin Willcox. He is survived by his wife, Mary Anna, children Clay (Shannon), John (Ashley) and Allison (Ethan) and grandchildren Layton, Hayden, Lawson, Landry, Leah, Eva, Anna Jane, Baylor, Emory and Kennedy. He is further survived by his brother Stephen Clayton Perry, sister Eloise Perry Thomas and brother Weyman Wesley Perry.

A funeral including graveside military honors will be held on Saturday, January 13th at 1PM at Woodlawn Memorial Park and Funeral Home (1 Pine Knoll Drive, Greenville, SC). In lieu of flowers, the family has established a fund in his memory with Camp Ridgecrest Alumni & Friends. Donations can be made by following: www.campridgecrestalumni.com/donations and selecting "In Memory of Richard Perry."

Arrangements under the direction of Woodlawn Funeral Home and Memorial Park, Greenville, SC.