Jimmy Bruce Richards

Jimmy Bruce Richards, affectionately known as “Jim,” age 88, of Virginia Beach, Virginia, passed away peacefully on October 17, 2026, at Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina.

Born on May 1, 1938, in Durham, North Carolina, Jim was the son of Jarvis James (J.J.) Murray, Sr. and Dorothy Marie Richards.

Jim spent much of his life in the Tidewater region of Virginia, where he raised his family before relocating to Richmond. He enjoyed a career spanning more than 25 years with Henkels & McCoy, working as a corrosion engineer. Following his retirement, Jim returned to Virginia Beach to be closer to family.

Throughout his life, Jim found happiness in the simple things: time spent with family and friends, fishing, music, and his passion for genealogy. He valued the stories and connections that bind generations together and took great interest in preserving his family's history.

Above all, Jim will be remembered for his generous heart and unwavering willingness to help others. Whether a friend needed a helping hand or a family member found themselves facing difficult circumstances, Jim gave what he could, whenever he could. His kindness was not measured by grand gestures, but by the countless ways he quietly showed up for the people in his life. Generous until the very end, he leaves behind a legacy of compassion, selflessness, and love.

Jim was a member of Norview United Methodist Church in Norfolk, Virginia.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Margaret Geneva Jordan Richards; his son, James Kelly Richards; his granddaughter, Jennifer Noel Richards; his sister, Patricia Anne Richards-Williams-Woodcock; and his parents-in-law, James Kelly Jordan and Margaret Nellie Jordan.

He is survived by his eldest son, Paul Leslie Liverman, Jr., and his wife, Terri Liverman; his daughter-in-law, Michelle Renee Richards; and his dear sister, Brenda Faye Owen Rice, along with extended family members and friends who will cherish his memory.

A memorial service celebrating Jim's life will be held on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, at 12:00 p.m., at Woodlawn Funeral Home in Norfolk, Virginia.

Jim's life serves as a reminder that a person's greatest legacy is not what they accumulate, but what they give to others. His generosity, kindness, and the love he shared will continue to live on through those whose lives he touched.