Lora N. LittleJohn

Lora Nichelle Richardson was born on May 1, 1968 in Baltimore, Maryland, the first child of Evangeline Speights. Lora’s family quickly grew a deep adoration for her loving heart, compassion, and gentle spirit. From her very first moments, it was evident that Lora would grow to become a devoted advocate given her strong will to always uncover the light in others. Upon completing her bachelor’s degree, Lora obtained a culinary management degree from the Baltimore International College. She went on to become the youngest Executive Chef at Morgan State University to the delight of its then president, Dr. Earl Richardson. It is well known that Lora had a love for cooking. Whether it was for a holiday dinner or an event she held just for the fun of it, Lora continuously found ways to bring family and friends closer and build lasting relationships that always began around the table. These acts of selflessness and kindness are a true testament to the love Lora exuded for every person who had the honor of being a part of her life. Soon after completing her culinary degree, Lora returned to her passion for educating young minds. Before helping to found Willow Park Academy, Lora taught Special Education at Deer Park Middle Magnet School. While there her desire to help the most vulnerable in our community succeed blossomed. For 20 years, Lora taught and was the academic director at Willow Park Academy – guiding the academic success of every student on the campus. There was no student Lora could not teach. From the early morning hours to well after the close of each school day, parents and teachers alike could find Lora conducting study sessions with students to ensure that each child met their fullest potential and felt loved and supported in the process. But for Lora’s tenacity, high expectations, perseverance and will to help all of her students succeed, Willow Park Academy would not be the beloved school it is today. While still an educator and director at Willow Park, Lora endured and persevered through the most challenging days of her life. In 2007 Lora was diagnosed with the autoimmune disease Scleroderma. This illness caused Lora to experience severe chills, body aches and shortness of breath. A few years after her diagnosis, Lora became reliant on oxygen to get through each day. Despite the numerous oxygen tanks she was forced to transport from home to work, and the physical pain she endured each day as her lungs began to fail, Lora never stopped teaching, she never stopped smiling, she never stopped pouring her all into every person who had the honor of being touched by her love. On any given afternoon Lora could be found, oxygen tank in tow directing a classroom full out rambunctious students with grace and love. When asked to take a break, to rest or to go do something for herself that did not involve the classroom, Lora would always respond that teaching was the best medicine to keep her fighting on. In 2010 Lora was gifted her first double lung transplant from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center after being denied a second chance at life by Johns Hopkins and the University of Pennsylvania. What UPMC saw in Lora that no other hospital did was her will to fight victoriously through every hurdle life never stopped throwing her way. With Scleroderma her projected survival rate was 4 to 5 years post double lung transplant, Lora made it to 8. When it came time for her second double lung transplant UPMC was hesitant but remembered just how strong and resilient Lora proved herself to be. Lora was deeply revered at UMPC as the first person to receive two double-lung transplants and survive more than 3 years. She was their “miracle patient”. Lora was a woman who never believed the odds mattered, it was only God and her will to live that would have the final say. This was a lesson she instilled in her daughter Tayler, and in each student that entered her classroom. She would say “the world is full of doubters, but it’s up to you whether you will succumb to their expectations of what you are capable of accomplishing or whether you will blaze a path of your own.” As one of Willow Park’s parents so eloquently stated “Mrs. Lora had to face many illnesses and setbacks, but somehow she never let that dampen her spirits. When told how strong she was, Lora’s reply was always “Nothing but God,…Nothing but God!!” Lora taught each of us how to fight on. To the devastation of Lora and her loved ones, 4 years after her second lung transplant and with no signs of lung issues in sight, the very immunosuppressants that kept her body from rejecting her new lungs, resulted in her body’s inability to fight off a stage 4 colon cancer diagnosis in March of 2022 and subsequent kidney failure. On July 19, 2022 at 12:45pm, after putting in a tireless fight to beat the odds just one more time, Lora succumbed to her illness surrounded by her beloved family and the nurses and doctors of UPMC who had the pleasure of being touched by Lora’s love. Lora leaves behind her mother Evangeline Speights; her daughter Tayler Littlejohn and son Eric Richardon; her two grandsons, Tyler Richardson and Eric Richardson Jr.; her brother Thomas Richardson; three nieces: Morgan, Kenedy and Brooklyn Richardson and two nephews: Jordan and Declan Richardson; countless beloved cousins, aunts and uncles; and her adored students at Willow Park Academy. Lora fully embodied the message in the song, “May the work I’ve done, speak for me.” We will honor her by living each day with purpose, strength, integrity, and love.

Tributes

Lora N. LittleJohn

May 1, 1968 - July 19, 2022