James E. Richardson

James E. Richardson, age 79, of Port Orange, Florida, passed away on Monday, September 5, 2022. Jim was born April 10, 1943, in Brotherton, Tennessee. Due to his mother’s illness and his father’s absence, Jim spent many of his childhood years in an orphanage. He grew up in the area of Muncie, Indiana, where he graduated from the Muncie Central High School in 1961. In his later years, as an adult, he was able to locate his mother’s brother and found out that his mother had died in Muncie, and is now buried in Tennessee. His uncle reported that they spent years trying to find “little Jimmy” but, sadly, they could not.

Jim’s experience of growing up in an orphanage gave him a deeply personal appreciation of the importance of children having toys at Christmas. He was a generous supporter of Toys for Tots every year as he would purchase many toys as well as bicycles, with the help of his grandsons, for this charity that distributes them to children who without these donations would have nothing to open on Christmas morning. Jim knew what it felt like as a child to feel a sadness and disappointment when there was no present, and wanted to make sure that with his help, other children would find joy.

Jim married Cynthia and they built a blended family of Margret Ann Miller, Kim Knight Multop, Michael Richardson (Jen), Kendra Knight Yost, and Mindy Richardson Seegert (Troy).

He attended Ball University in Muncie. He was a Math teacher and worked at the Dana Corporation in Toledo. In 1984, they moved from Toledo to Port Orange, FL. Jim attended Daytona State College and then owned a plant nursery called Sweetwater Gardens that provided seasonal flowers and plants to many churches and families in Port Orange. He loved gardening and even after he no longer owned the nursery, he kept their home yard as beautiful as a park.

Jim had an almost mystical knack with animals – stray cats would adopt him and all dogs would befriend him. Over the years their home was shared with many dogs and some cats that brought a special happiness to his life.

One of Jim’s favorite places was the Great Smoky Mountains in the Tennessee and North Carolina area. For nearly a decade they had a mountain home in Tennessee; and being there enjoying the beautiful scenery overlooking the mountains, would bring great joy to Jim.

Jim also loved bowling and he bowled for many years on leagues in New Smyrna and Ormond Beach. He enjoyed many friendships from his time bowling. Jim loved Covenant United Methodist Church and his family. Jim is survived by his wife, Cindy, and their 5 children, 11 grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren, all of whom he loved tremendously.

Services for family and friends will be at Covenant United Methodist Church, 3701 S. Clyde Morris Blvd. Port Orange, FL. 32129 on Saturday, October 1, 2022 at 11 am.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to Kindred Hospice Care in memory of Jim.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.VolusiaMemorialFuneral.com for the Richardson family.