Individual Details

Burial

Obituary: April 3, 1937- July 21, 2015 In loving memory of Shelley P. Richardson who made his transition from this life on Tuesday July 21, 2015. He was a devoted husband, father, brother, uncle and friend to many. He loved getting to know people and was an avid conversationalist. He will be greatly missed. Shelley was born on April 3, 1937, to M. G. and Lucille Hoffpauir Richardson in Abbeville, Louisiana. He was raised in several small towns in Louisiana and graduated high school in Hackberry, Louisiana in 1955. He earned his B.S. Degree in Health and Physical Education at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches and then completed a Masters of Religious Education at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. After college, Shelley served in the US Army as an Athletic and Recreation Officer at the Army Training Center in Fort Sill, Oklahoma. He spent eleven years in campus ministry with the Tennessee Baptist Convention and Alabama Baptist State Convention. He also served as a Foreign Missionary to the Philippines during this time. He retired after thirty years as a Community Education Zone Coordinator for the Jefferson County Board of Education in Birmingham, Alabama. Shelley's interest in outdoor sports was evident in his love for the game of tennis which he played well into his seventies. He taught a white water canoeing class at UAB in the Special Studies Program for ten years and enjoyed canoeing and camping for many years. Traveling, reading, and writing were also among some of his favorite activities. For the past twenty years Shelley's creativity in graphic design flourished as he delighted family and friends with his humorous and creative personalized cards. One of his most cherished works was his illustration of a children's book, Can a Rooster Drive a Tractor, written by his sister, Bonnie Murphy. He is survived by his loving wife, Lulu Waller Richardson; his sister Bonnie Murphy (Steve); four stepchildren, Debra Stroud (DeJuan), Salle Redfield (James), Helen McIntyre (Matthew), William Lee Merrill (Martha Anne); two nephews, Trent Murphy (Karen), Todd Murphy (Tricia); a niece, Mitzi Founds (Leif); 14 grandchildren; 7 great grandchildren; and 9 great nieces and nephews. His dogs, Chappy and Libby, have been his constant companions for nine years. Friends are invited to honor his memory and visit with the family Sunday afternoon, July 26 between 2:00-4:00 at Unity Church of Birmingham where he was a long-time member. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Unity Church of Birmingham, 2803 Highland Ave South, Birmingham, AL 35205 or Two by Two Animal Rescue Shelter, P.O. Box 708, Helena, AL 35080. Published in The Birmingham News from July 24 to July 26, 2015