Mrs Almenia Benbow Richardson

Almenia Benbow Richardson, wife of the late Leon Norman Richardson, passed on Saturday, January 4, 2014 at the Sumter Health and Rehabilitation Center of Sumter. Born in Williamsburg County, she was a daughter of the late James Benbow and Bertha Filmore Benbow. She was educated in the Williamsburg County Public School and was a graduate of Tomlinson High School in Kingstree, SC. She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from Allen University of Columbia, SC and in 1976 a Master’s Degree from the University of South Carolina. She did further studies with the University of Iowa and South Carolina State College in Orangeburg, SC. Almenia began her teaching career at Liberty Street Elementary School and in later years Alice Drive Elementary, where she remained and retired after forty two years of service. After retirement, her love for teaching continued with both the Head Start of Sumter and Shaw Air Force Base Head Start program. Almenia’s professional affiliations were numerous and included: South Carolina National and American Education and Parent Teachers Associations (PTA) and the International Reading Association. She was a Golden Life member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated; a Founding member of the Eta Zeta Omega Chapter of Sumter and Camden, coordinator of Reading is Fundamental (RIF) Services and advisor instrumental in the chartering of Nu Gamma Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated of Morris College of Sumter. Almenia attended Mt. Pisgah AME Church and later joined Emmanuel United Methodist and served faithfully as a Sunday School Teacher and with the United Methodist Women. In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Mozella Bristow and three brothers in-law. Surviving are three sisters; Mable Davis, Wilton, CT, Theresa Smalls, Georgetown, SC and Inez Washington of Sumter, SC; a brother, Franklin (Geneva) Benbow, Philadelphia, PA, three sisters-in-law, Edna Richardson and Azalee Richardson of Sumter and special caretaker, Berthenia R. Willis of Tallulah, LA. Elizabeth White, a dedicated caretaker of the home; a special niece, Deborah Coleman Calhoun, who is like a daughter and a host of other relatives. Funeral Services will be held 1:00 pm Saturday, January 11, 2014 at Emmanuel United Methodist Church, South Main and Bee Streets, Sumter, with Rev. Doris R. Bright, officiating and Rev. Willie F. Dicks, Jr., Eulogist. The public may view on Friday from 1:00to 6:00 pm, at the Palmer Memorial Chapel, 304 South Main St., Sumter. The Sorority, Ivey Beyond the Wall Service will be from 7:00-8:00 pm. on Friday. Mrs. Richardson will be placed in the church at 12:00 noon for viewing until the hour of service. Interment will follow in the Hillside Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at the residences of her sister, Inez Washington, 509 Dicks St., and Deborah Coleman Calhoun on 819 Club Lane, Sumter. Memorial Tributes may be made to: Education Advancement Foundation of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority, Incorporated, P. O. Box 1444 Sumter, SC 29151. Palmer Memorial Chapel Inc. is in charge of the arrangements. Please leave condolences for the family on their website found at: wwwpalmermemorialchapel.com

Mrs Almenia Benbow Richardson

March 19, 1930 - January 4, 2014