Charlotte Jean Richbourg

GASTON – Charlotte Jean Richbourg (née Meyer) passed away at home surrounded by her family and loved ones on March 22, 2021 at the age of 78. While impossible to describe her with only a few words, Charlotte was, at her core, a loving and devoted wife, mother, sister, grandmother (“Me Maw”), great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother.

Charlotte was born on September 29, 1942 in Sacramento, California to the late John and Viona Meyer (née Fode). Born the second of four daughters, Charlotte was, in the words of her sisters, prissy, earning her the lifelong nickname “Queenie.” To others, Charlotte stood out as tenacious and headstrong. At the young age of 16, Charlotte married Donald Ray Richbourg, a sailor with the U.S. Navy. Throughout over 62 years of marriage, they adventured across the United States and raised two children, Donna and Dale, as well as numerous family pets.

To be loved by Charlotte was to be loved unconditionally. She was fiercely loyal to those whom she loved and she never gave less than all of herself to them. This is best illustrated by those moments when Charlotte was at her happiest, namely at home during the Christmas season watching her family unwrap present after present which Charlotte had spent months prior personally curating just to make the holiday special for everyone. It would be an understatement to say that Charlotte was fun-loving and spirited. To borrow the words of a well-known song, Charlotte loved piña coladas and getting caught in the rain. She had a zest for life that was simply unmatched, as further evidenced by her love for gardening and uncanny ability to cultivate the most vibrant-colored flowers even during the darkest of days. Charlotte will be deeply missed by everyone who knew her.

Charlotte was preceded in death by her parents, John and Viona Meyer, and older sister, Barbara Weaver. She is survived by her husband, Donald Ray Richbourg; children and their spouses, Donna Richbourg Rhodes (David) and Dale Ray Richbourg (Wendy); younger sisters, Debbie Davidson and Elaine Evans; granddaughters, Dione, Sandi, Ashlee, and Kassie; great-grandchildren, Tyler, Taylor, Tiffanie, and Gabby; great-great-grandson, Jaiden; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

To celebrate Charlotte’s life, please join her family for a memorial service on Saturday, March 27, 2021 at the St. Andrews Road Church of Christ located at 425 St. Andrews Road in Columbia, South Carolina. Visitation starts at 12:00 p.m., with the memorial service to follow at 1:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Hospice Foundation of America via mail to 1707 L Street NW, Suite 220, Washington, DC 20036 or online at hospicefoundation.org.