Obituary for Msgt. Jesse James Richards, Jr.
Master Sergeant Jesse James Richards, Jr. USAFR (retired) was born on March 19, 1931,
to Ruby Richards (nee Hill) and Jesse James Richards, Sr. in Madison County, VA. His mother
passed away during the perinatal period and he was cared for by her sisters. Joanna Mobley
(nee Hill) and John Mobley became his surrogate parents. He was raised in Washington, DC
where he was educated in the public school system. He graduated from Dunbar High School in
1948. Prior to graduation, he joined the Air National Guard (March 1947- Jan 1950). In January
1950, he changed branches of service to the United States Air Force, and he was on active duty
during the Korean War through 1953. After completing this, with honorable distinction, he
became part of the USAF Reserves and served until 1986.
He had many skills and was very industrious. One of his occupations was as a taxi driver, which
is lucky because this is how he met the woman that would someday be his wife, Margaret Sims.
In July, 1956, he was approaching an intersection when he saw a woman shaking her fist at the
streetcar as it pulled away while she was running for it. He pulled next to her and said that he
would be happy to take her to her destination. She told him she had only the coins to ride the
streetcar and she asked that he drop her off when that money ran out. He followed his first
mind, they struck up a conversation and before he knew it, he was at her place. In addition to
his pleasant conversation, she tells the story that he had pretty, white teeth, curly hair, tall
enough for her to wear heels, and his shoes were not quilled over so he was a "keeper". Three
months later, on October 27, 1956, they were married at St Martin's Catholic Church in
Washington, DC. From that union came two daughters, Dawn Vinson and Patricia Richards. He
and his family moved to Prince George's County in 1965 into the home of their dreams. As
husband, father and grandfather, he is known by many names, but to his grandkids, Jessica
Vinson and Michael Hall, he was simply “Reshard”. Jessica coined this name because she was
trying to say his name like her Nani, who always called him Richard.
He worked as a civilian at Bolling Air Force Base and Andrews Air Force Base. At Bolling, he
was a certified electrician and at Andrews, he became a Flight Engineer. He was the "computer"
of the plane because without him the plane could not take o. He was certified on the C129's,
C141's and C130's. He flew all around the world as a flight engineer to places like Egypt,
Southeast Asia and Europe. He also had a private pilot's license, and he flew his wife and
daughters around the local area. In his neighborhood and within our family he was known as the
"fix-it" man. He could do carpentry, electrical work, HVAC, plumbing, automotive work and
landscaping. He was so good at automotive work that he completely dismantled Dawn’s car and
put it back together! MSgt. Richards was also a certified locksmith and an avid lover of algebraic
problems. He knew all types of math expressions and math properties. Jessica and Michael
knew that they would get a math lesson with each visit and homework to return. He was also an
avid boxing fan. This was largely because of his own boxing career. MSgt. Richards was a
Golden Gloves competitor.
In retirement, he would spend his time within the neighborhood volunteering to cut grass and
vacuum leaves. He also continued his passion for algebra and tutored students at St. Matthias
School and High Point High School. As his health began to decline, he continued working on
math problems and became an avid chess player. He also learned how to play and master
Sudoku. He learned using the actual books instead of the computer version which allows you to
instantly know if you are right or wrong. He also loved music, particularly oldies like “Grazing in
the Grass”, “The Theme from A Summer Place”, and “So in Love”.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Margaret Richards, Dawn Vinson (daughter), Patricia
Richards (daughter), Jessica Vinson-Smart(granddaughter), Michael Hall (grandson), his
half-siblings, Minnie Lucile Turner (nee Richards), Milton Richards, and Bradley Keith (the son
he never had). He was preceded in death by Rev. Frank I Smart, II (grandson-in-law). In
addition to these members of his loving, devoted family, he leaves to mourn many cousins,
friends, coworkers and neighbors. Because he was such a student of math, the word "infinity"
describes the measure of how much he will be missed and how much he gave to us.
to Ruby Richards (nee Hill) and Jesse James Richards, Sr. in Madison County, VA. His mother
passed away during the perinatal period and he was cared for by her sisters. Joanna Mobley
(nee Hill) and John Mobley became his surrogate parents. He was raised in Washington, DC
where he was educated in the public school system. He graduated from Dunbar High School in
1948. Prior to graduation, he joined the Air National Guard (March 1947- Jan 1950). In January
1950, he changed branches of service to the United States Air Force, and he was on active duty
during the Korean War through 1953. After completing this, with honorable distinction, he
became part of the USAF Reserves and served until 1986.
He had many skills and was very industrious. One of his occupations was as a taxi driver, which
is lucky because this is how he met the woman that would someday be his wife, Margaret Sims.
In July, 1956, he was approaching an intersection when he saw a woman shaking her fist at the
streetcar as it pulled away while she was running for it. He pulled next to her and said that he
would be happy to take her to her destination. She told him she had only the coins to ride the
streetcar and she asked that he drop her off when that money ran out. He followed his first
mind, they struck up a conversation and before he knew it, he was at her place. In addition to
his pleasant conversation, she tells the story that he had pretty, white teeth, curly hair, tall
enough for her to wear heels, and his shoes were not quilled over so he was a "keeper". Three
months later, on October 27, 1956, they were married at St Martin's Catholic Church in
Washington, DC. From that union came two daughters, Dawn Vinson and Patricia Richards. He
and his family moved to Prince George's County in 1965 into the home of their dreams. As
husband, father and grandfather, he is known by many names, but to his grandkids, Jessica
Vinson and Michael Hall, he was simply “Reshard”. Jessica coined this name because she was
trying to say his name like her Nani, who always called him Richard.
He worked as a civilian at Bolling Air Force Base and Andrews Air Force Base. At Bolling, he
was a certified electrician and at Andrews, he became a Flight Engineer. He was the "computer"
of the plane because without him the plane could not take o. He was certified on the C129's,
C141's and C130's. He flew all around the world as a flight engineer to places like Egypt,
Southeast Asia and Europe. He also had a private pilot's license, and he flew his wife and
daughters around the local area. In his neighborhood and within our family he was known as the
"fix-it" man. He could do carpentry, electrical work, HVAC, plumbing, automotive work and
landscaping. He was so good at automotive work that he completely dismantled Dawn’s car and
put it back together! MSgt. Richards was also a certified locksmith and an avid lover of algebraic
problems. He knew all types of math expressions and math properties. Jessica and Michael
knew that they would get a math lesson with each visit and homework to return. He was also an
avid boxing fan. This was largely because of his own boxing career. MSgt. Richards was a
Golden Gloves competitor.
In retirement, he would spend his time within the neighborhood volunteering to cut grass and
vacuum leaves. He also continued his passion for algebra and tutored students at St. Matthias
School and High Point High School. As his health began to decline, he continued working on
math problems and became an avid chess player. He also learned how to play and master
Sudoku. He learned using the actual books instead of the computer version which allows you to
instantly know if you are right or wrong. He also loved music, particularly oldies like “Grazing in
the Grass”, “The Theme from A Summer Place”, and “So in Love”.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Margaret Richards, Dawn Vinson (daughter), Patricia
Richards (daughter), Jessica Vinson-Smart(granddaughter), Michael Hall (grandson), his
half-siblings, Minnie Lucile Turner (nee Richards), Milton Richards, and Bradley Keith (the son
he never had). He was preceded in death by Rev. Frank I Smart, II (grandson-in-law). In
addition to these members of his loving, devoted family, he leaves to mourn many cousins,
friends, coworkers and neighbors. Because he was such a student of math, the word "infinity"
describes the measure of how much he will be missed and how much he gave to us.