Stonewall McKinney Richburg

COLUMBIA – With deep sadness, the family of Stonewall McKinney Richburg announces his passing. Born in Tuskegee Institute, Alabama on August 14, 1921, the only child of G.S. and Calvesta McKinney Richburg, he passed away on September 9, 2024 at his daughter’s home, where he lived and was cared for by her over the past nine years. His health declined suddenly after celebrating his 103rd birthday.

“Richburg,” as he was affectionately called throughout his life, was educated in the elementary and high schools administered by Tuskegee Institute, earning his high school diploma in architectural drawing along with successful participation in the ROTC program. In 1942, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Education from Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University) and later, in 1955, a Master of Education degree from Purdue University. He completed additional studies at Tuskegee University and the University of South Carolina.

Richburg began serving his country upon induction into the United States Army in 1943 and his first assignment was to the Columbia (SC) Army Air Base. In 1945, he completed the Army Engineer Officer Candidate School, where, from a class of 334 candidates, he was among the top ten of 91 graduates and the only African-American. He then joined the American forces during World War II from 1945-1946, and was awarded the Good Conduct and Victory medals. He also served in the Korean conflict from 1951-1952. Richburg retired from the military in 1961 as Captain in the Army Reserve Corps of Engineers.

In 1946, Richburg made Columbia, South Carolina his home and began his career as an educator. While attending church service with his future wife and her family, he was introduced to Dr. C. A. Johnson, then Supervisor of Negro Schools. Shortly thereafter, Dr. Johnson offered Richburg a position at Booker T. Washington High School (BTWHS) as its first teacher of mechanical drawing and blueprint reading, which he gladly accepted.

Later on, during the spring semester of 1956, Richburg taught at Florence C. Benson Elementary School, and for the following school year he was appointed Principal of Florence C. Benson and Celia Dial Saxon Elementary Schools, serving both concurrently. In 1961, Richburg was appointed as opening Principal of Fairwold Junior High School, and in 1965, he returned to BTWHS – this time as Principal. His seven years as Principal of BTWHS included the beginning of desegregation and the integration of schools. During this time of mixed emotions, Richburg established cooperative relationships between his teachers, students, parents, and area officials.

In 1972, Richburg was appointed Administrative Assistant to Richland County School District One’s Superintendent, and in 1974 became the District’s first Director of Pupil Accounting. In 1980, he was appointed as the District’s first Executive Director of Pupil Personnel Services, a division of the District that included social work, health services, psychological services and pupil accounting, and also served as supervising administrator of the District’s Waverly Administration Annex.

Richburg retired from education in 1983, completing thirty-seven years of service in Richland County School District One. Following his retirement, he continued to work for the District as a substitute for administrators on leave. He maintained membership in the National Education Association, the South Carolina Education Association, the Richland County Education Association, and other professional education organizations including Phi Delta Kappa. In 2011, Richburg was one of six inductees into the District’s Hall of Fame, the highest honor bestowed upon individuals by the District’s Board of School Commissioners.

Richburg is featured in the University of South Carolina Museum of Education’s “So Their Voices Will Never Be Forgotten” exhibition. During the Spring semester of the 2010-2011 school year, the University’s College of Education invited him to discuss with education majors his experience in the struggle for civil rights and the desegregation of schools in Columbia. The discussion can be viewed on the U of SC College of Education’s web site.

Richburg’s service to the state of South Carolina, city of Columbia and Richland County included appointment by Governor Richard Riley to the S.C. Insurance Commission for the period 1984 to 1990, where he served as vice-chairman from 1988-1989 and chairman from 1989-1990. Having served as a member of the Richland County Foster Care Review Board, Governor Riley also appointed Richburg to a six-year term as member of the State Children’s Foster Care Review Board for the same period - 1984-1990.

In the early 1970s, Richburg was among the first group of African-Americans to integrate the Columbia Luncheon Club, and was a charter member of the Greater Columbia Community Relations Council. He served as a member of the Advisory Committee to The Boys’ Clubs of Greater Columbia, member of the Richland County Public Library Board, and as a member of the Advisory Board of Richland County School District One’s Challenger [spacecraft] Learning Center.

Richburg’s service to his immediate community included eighteen years as a member of Richland County School District One’s W. A. Perry is Middle School Task Force and twenty-five-plus years as a member of the Jones-McDonald Neighborhood Association. In 2008, the Columbia Council of Neighborhoods recognized Richburg as “One of Eight Over [age] Eighty” members of Columbia’s neighborhood associations, and in 2012 the Jones-McDonald Neighborhood Association presented to him the “Distinguished Membership Award in Education” for his “…Significant Contributions to the Community in Leadership, Integrity, and History of Giving Back.” Richburg was an enthusiastic supporter of the Booker T. Washington High School Foundation - an organization that sustains the former school’s spirit and tradition as a historic educational symbol in Columbia. He also was a proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated, and Columbia’s Alpha Iota Boulé of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity - the oldest African-American Greek-letter fraternity.

A devout Christian from a very young age, Richburg was a member of his wife’s lifelong family church, the historic Ladson Presbyterian Church in downtown Columbia. He served two terms as a member of the Session, was chairman of the Property Committee, and a member of the Personnel, Stewardship, and Christian Education Committees. In 1988, applying his engineer training, he supervised undergirding of the Church’s then almost 100-year-old sanctuary floor. Later, in 2012, during Black History Month, the Church honored Richburg for his many professional and civic accomplishments.

In 2021, on Richburg’s 100th birthday, Columbia’s mayor awarded him the key to the city and proclaimed August 14 “Stonewall McKinney Richburg Day” in recognition of his dedication and service locally through Richland County School District One and nationally through the United States Army. On March 16, 2022, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster presented to Richburg the Order of the Palmetto award, the highest civilian honor awarded to South Carolinians for extraordinary lifetime service and contributions of national and/or statewide significance.

Richburg was a very good cook and, alongside his wife, enjoyed entertaining family and friends at their home. He enjoyed traveling, especially to his beloved hometown of Tuskegee with his wife and children. Richburg also enjoyed watching movies and television game shows, playing Bridge and Solitaire, solving Sudoku puzzles, and reading the newspaper and other periodicals such as TIME and Black Enterprise magazines. He also greatly valued spending quality time with his children and grandchildren, and took pride in being a good and helpful neighbor.

In addition to his parents, Richburg was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 71 years, Geneva Smith Richburg, and two sons, Cedral Tesreau Richburg and Valary Jey Richburg. He leaves to cherish his memory son, Kaarman Valient Richburg; daughter, Deidre Toi Richburg; eight devoted grand-children, Keagan Ryne Richburg, Cedral Sean Richburg (Elmira), Julian Tesreau Richburg (Avery), Kaitlin Richburg Ellis (Gregory), Kelan Michael Richburg (Talima), Peyton Valary Richburg, Ivan Garland Earle, II (Adrienne), and Andrew Thomas McKinney Earle; twelve great-grand-children; three great-great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Anna Marie Clark Smith; his dear McKinney cousins; and his cherished Smith nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers or plants, memorials are encouraged to be made in Stonewall McKinney Richburg’s name to the Tuskegee University School of Education Fund by contacting Destinnie Chappell at 334-727-8607.

Per his wishes, Richburg’s homegoing service will be private.

Dunbar Funeral Home on Devine Street is assisting the family.

Memories may be shared at www.dunbarfunerals.com.