Joe Paul Richardson

Joe Paul Richardson was born on May 18, 1951, in Crockett, Texas, to Joseph and Delores Richardson. He was raised by his great-aunt, Mary DeBose Thompson and great-grandmother, Easter DeBose. He attended the public schools of Crockett and graduated in 1969 from Ralph Bunch High School. He was baptized at an early age at St. Luke Baptist Church. As a young man, he joined Union Prairie Baptist Church at Porter Springs, Crockett, Texas.

After high school, Joe Paul married Delois Hamilton, and to this union one son, Paul DeWayne, was born. He also briefly attended Mary Allen College. While living in Crockett, he held several jobs, including steel mill worker, truck driver, and corrections officer for Texas Department of Corrections. After moving to Houston, he joined Morning Star Baptist Church and worked for Reed Tool Company and the City of Houston. While working in the day, he continued his college education in the evenings and on weekends, earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history. Always an avid reader, one of his favorite hobbies was driving to numerous small towns and ordering their newspapers. To his family, he was known to have an excellent memory of the family ancestry. To his colleagues, he was known to have a vast knowledge of U.S. and world history and significant historical events. His job prior to retirement was as a substitute teacher in Houston and surrounding school districts. He is presently a member of Cornerstone Faith of Deliverance Church, where he was known as a dedicated and faithful member. In 2010, Joe Paul married his longtime friend and confidant, Ms. Gracie Porter. This marriage flourished and lasted through the years, until his death parted them on Friday morning, August 27, 2021.

He was preceded in death by: his father, Joseph Richardson; great- aunt, Mary DeBose Thompson; great-grandmother, Easter DeBose; grandmothers, Venola Moten and Carrie Williams; stepmother, Elizabeth Haynes; four brothers, Walter Richardson, Reverend James Earl Richardson, Robert Green, Michael Richardson; two sisters, Elaine Richardson James and Marie Richardson; aunt, Pensacola Jackson; four uncles, James Herny Richardson, James Lawrence Richardson, Larry Moten, and Anthony Moten; nephew, Jason Washington; and niece, Carolyn Senegal.

He leaves to mourn his passing: wife, Gracie Porter; son, Paul DeWayne Richardson; mother, Delores Richardson; four sisters, Dr. Delores Washington, Cladis Harris, Carrie Haynes, and Carletha Haynes; six brothers, Dr. James Edward Richardson, M.D, Gregory Griffin, Gary Richardson, Jimmie Richardson, Eddie Green, and Michael Joseph Rogers; two aunts, Catherine Pleasant and Bennie Sue Williams; one uncle, Donald Moten; mother-in-law, Mrs. Lillie Fisher; step-children, Reverend Robert Tom and Tobie Britton; and long-time neighbors and confidants, Mr. Clyde Nelms and Reverend Larry Paul Lewis.