•PART FIVE, FINAL PART
"And it's passionately interesting for me that the things that I learned in a small town, in a very modest home, are just the things that I believe have won the election."
--- Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
Never underestimate the attributes of a small town. Newlyweds Marilyn and Dick Richardson began their life together in Franklinton in his parents' former home, that of Frank and Nora Richardson. It was situated behind Grandma Wood's house. Ms. Marilyn described the area as the Wood compound off Bickham Street. Digressing, I well remember Mr. Frank and Ms. Nora's subsequent home on Greenrich Street where I paddled in the colossal, concrete pool as a kid.
Mr. Dick informed that his parents purchased this home, when he went to college, from Bob and Mercedes Shaw, who were featured in my series on Holy Family Catholic Church. When the Shaws built it, they included in its design a room, with a separate entrance and bath, for the visiting priests that I wrote about last year. The lovely home is now owned by Mr. Dick's nephew Thomas Richardson, son of his late brother Thomas Russell "Tommy" Richardson and wife Susan.
Back to the Richardsons, Ms. Marilyn, who hailed from New Orleans, vividly recalled the move to Franklinton. It must have been quite an adjustment in the late 1950s. British novelist Doris Lessing declared, "The art of living in a small town is one of the most difficult to acquire." Yet, Ms. Marilyn managed beautifully. Drinking coffee all day long, the Woods made her feel most welcome as did my mother and her age group who were a generation older. Ms. Marilyn added, "They were wonderful to me." I remember, even after I came along in 1964, Momma and Ms. Marilyn were still having coffee most mornings. I suppose they had the Woods to thank for that.
One point which warrants clarification is that as "wonderful" as Marilyn thinks family and friends were to her, the shoe was actually on the other foot. She was wonderful to them. As my patient bridge partner Pat Berthelot said, while we were having a delightful lunch in the formal dining room of the Richardson home, "Lucky is the person who is Marilyn's friend." Truer words were never spoken.
With the Richardsons' son Rick, born in 1960 (like his dad, the best boy baby at the Fair), the couple moved to their current contemporary home, which Buck Seal built for them on South Main Street in 1967. There, they thrived. Delos Johnson, Jr., who owned the land, wouldn't sell, but he agreed to a trade for some acreage. His wife, the late Leah Ott Johnson, and Marilyn were the closest of friends. The two couples - next door neighbors - were hand in glove for life.
Dick and Marilyn had son James Richardson in 1974 by which time his dad was accruing accolades in the pulpwood business and in our community as a civic leader. Mr. Dick was President of several significant organizations: the Louisiana Forestry Association (two years), the Chamber of Commerce, the Skeet Club, and the Washington Parish School Board (four years) on which he served for twelve. A dapper dresser, Dick also was a Director on the First State Bank Board.
In addition, he was elected the Republican Committee Chair for Washington Parish, pretty much the beginning of the party here. Staunch Republicans, the Richardsons not only have historically posted political signs on their property but they've met the President. Oh, not this one, but an earlier one. During Mr. Dick's representation of the Louisiana Forestry Association, he had the honor to meet President George Walker Bush. This opportunity came courtesy of the Richardsons' close friend Richard Baker, former member of the United States House of Representatives.
Mr. Dick was also a good friend of regular folk, like my dad. In the late 1980s when Daddy made his first, but not last, trip to France and Germany, retracing his flight path during World War II, friends Dick and Marilyn hosted a bon voyage party for him. It was French fabulist Jean de La Fontaine who said, "Friendship is the shadow of the evening, which increases with the setting sun of life."
In my writing endeavor, Mr. Dick has been a faithful fan, reading and encouraging. But when I wrote my first series on his dear friend Margie Yates Jenkins, who had amassed a slew of awards, I omitted that she was Louisiana Tree Farmer of the Year. At a subsequent social gathering, I watched Mr. Dick approach. No hello - just admonishment, for me. I admit that it was too important to have skipped so I added it in a subsequent column. Most importantly, I did not want to disappoint Mr. Dick.
The Richardsons have a legion of friends in Washington Parish, too many to list. But they singled out the Forets - Dr. Gerald and the late Gayle. Marilyn, who went to high school with Gayle, had a hand in recruiting the Forets to Franklinton. The lure of friendship, in addition to a family medical practice. And the rest is history.
But Mr. Dick's roots brought the Richardsons here, and for that we are grateful. Their lovely family consists of sons Rick and James (daughter-in-law deShea) and grandchildren Mary Grace, Charlotte, Constance, and J.P. (the latter are my neighbors). And I would be remiss if I didn't mention my dear friend, former daughter-in-law Jeanne Richardson Perrault who, sitting with me daily in the hospital, prayed my mother out of a coma in 2000.
Dick's late brother Thomas Russell (Susan) is the father of Suellen Richardson Vise (Marcus), Russell Lampton Richardson (Katie), and Thomas Ott Richardson and the grandfather of four. Dick's brother James Lampton "Jim," who succumbed last year, left behind wife Andrea Browne Richardson.
The surviving son and daughter-in-law of Frank and Nora Richardson, Dick and Marilyn are leaving their family the Richardson legacy.
