Freestone County, Texas
Obituaries


[Source: Mildred Burkhart
This is John Whitney Richardson.]


IN MEMORY OF REV. J.W. RICHARDSON

Rev. J.W.  Richardson was born August 27th, 1849, at Marietta, Mississippi; he 
came to Texas in 1870.  On February 21, 1871, he and Miss Mary Cobbs were 
united in marriage.  He joined the Missionary Baptist Church at the age of 17, 
and on June 10th 1894, at Antioch Church, East of Fairfield, he was ordained to 
preach, the presbytery consisting of Rev. E.J. Brown, Rev. D.A. Gaddy, and Rev. 
E.H. Willingham.

During his ministry he baptized 906 persons, and during the same period, he 
performed the ceremony that made 146 couples husband and wife.

He died at his home, East of Fairfield, near Antioch, on October 8, 1924, and 
was buried in the Antioch cemetery, Rev. M.M. Sheets officiating, assisted by 
Rev. H.L. McKissack and Rev. A.J. Goodfellow.

Brother Richardson’s wife, Mrs. Mary Richardson, the companion of a long life-
time, survives him; there also survive him eight children: N.L. Richardson, 
Mrs. Delia Solomon, J.A. Richardson, H. Richardson, C.H. Richardson, Mrs. 
Jessie Henry, Fred Richardson, and Mrs. Berta Milliken.

There was a great crowd at the funeral, relatives and friends from different 
portions of the County, to pay the last tribute of respect and love at the 
passing of this faithful minister of God.  Practically everybody in Freestone 
County knew Bro. Richardson.  For thirty years he had been going to and fro in 
the County, preaching the religion of Jesus Christ; working for a higher and 
better life, for happier homes, for the upbuilding of our County and State, and 
for the happiness which lives above and beyond the misfortunes and sorrows of 
this world.  Truly, as the lengthening shadows gathered about this worthy 
brother, he might have looked back over the record of long life, and have said, 
as did that wise and most worthy teacher of some two thousand years ago: 
“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” 

The vagaries, the vain theories and foolish ideas that have sprung up in some 
portions of our country of late years, under the patronage of some who call 
themselves Christians, never touched the faith or tarnished the hope of this 
faithful child of God.  His was the old faith; the doctrine of Jesus Christ; 
his was the “thus sayeth the Lord of Hosts.”  Another patriarch sleeps with his 
fathers; this veteran in the service of the Lord, sleeps well.  His work goes 
on; the labors and the result of the labors of such as he, ever sleeps in the 
graves where slumbers the dust of the dead.  There is a rest for the children 
of God.  Brother Richardson rests.

A FRIEND