Mary Evelyn Richards passed away peacefully at the age of 83 on Monday, May 22, 2017 at her home in Chipley, Florida surrounded by her children and family.

Evelyn was born on Saturday, January 13, 1934 in Cottonwood, Alabama to the late Henry Richard Tindell and the late Margaret Agnes Fears Richards. She along with her brothers Henry Richard Tindell, Jr. (Verla) of Austin, Texas and Henry "Buddy" Richards (Linda) of Winter Haven, Florida and Sister Lavonne Richards Cooper (Charles) of Bartow, Florida was raised on the bay of Eastpoint, Florida.
In the early 1950's Evelyn met the late James Alfred Richard and married on June 6, 1955 and raised 9 children. Louise McDaniel (Wayne) of Chipley, Florida, Jennie Richards of Tallahassee, Florida, Jannie Ham (Richard) of Apalachicola, Florida, Judy Richards of Pascagoula, Mississippi, the late Britton Richards, Randy Richards (Linda) of Eastpoint, Florida, Kay Payami (Morey) of Fort Myers, Florida, Michael Richards (Paige) of Eastpoint, Florida and Mark Richards (Debra) of Greenville, Florida.

Evelyn's quiver was certainly full, she went on to be the Mawmaw to Scott Lenderman, Kelley Lenderman (Kris), Alice Partridge (Timothy), William Shiver, Amy Kelly (Scott), Allen Ham (Katrina), Kimberly Wardwell, Briton Payami, Joshua Standridge, Tara Payami, Denise Richards, Tamara Shiver (Richard), Joshua Richards, Jake Richards and Anna Ramirez.

And if Mawmaw's quiver wasn't full enough God blessed her to be a "Great Mawmaw" to Scott Kelly, Jr., Brandi Lenderman, the late Joshua Kelly, Lillie Lenderman, Koty Partridge, Levi Partridge, Alex Shiver, Sydnee Partridge, Tyler Lenderman, Hunter Lenderman, Sarah Ham, Andrew Ham, Noah Jenks, Jackson Shiver and Amelia Richards.
Evelyn's title of "Great Mawmaw" got a little longer and was promoted to "Great Great Mawmaw" to Gunner Carroll, Mykaela Johnson and Mackenzie Johnson.

Evelyn loved life, her family and she loved the Lord with all of her heart. While living in Chipley she attended the Chipley Church of God under the Pastorate of W.D. Cobb for many years, later she attended the Eastpoint Church of God under the late Pastor Herman Knapp and frequently visited the Apalachicola First Pentecostal Holiness Church under the late Pastor Ronald Jackson and the current Pastor Susan and Pastor Emory Roach. Her services will be held at the Eastpoint Church of God on Saturday, May 27, 2017 with viewing at 10:00 a.m. and funeral services at 11:00 a.m. following with a graveside service where she will be laid to rest alongside of her late husband and son. A luncheon will follow the services at the Eastpoint Church of God's Fellowship Hall hosted by the Eastpoint Church of God's Women's Ministry and the Apalachicola First Pentecostal Holiness Women's Ministry.

Everyone who knew her, spoke highly of her, she was kindhearted, gentle, caring and truly had a loving soul. She always had a smile on her face that would light up the room. She was an encouragement to all who was blessed to know her.

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race and I have kept the faith." 2 Timothy 4:7. She is now in our future, not our past. Heaven is just a little sweeter than it was just a few days ago.