Mr. Leo Richardson, Jr.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.", 2 Timothy 4:7” Mr. Leo Richardson, Jr., beloved family patriarch, husband, father, brother, uncle, and friend, went home to be with the Lord on Monday, January 26, 2026, at the age of 88 years old. Born on July 23, 1937, in Huger, South Carolina, he was the seventh child of thirteen children born to the late Reverend Joe Leo Richardson, Sr. and the late Mary Brown- Richardson. Although Junior was born as Joe Leo Richardson, Jr., his parents gave his first name, “Joe” to his elder brother, Woodrow, at an early age, and later in life both brothers had their names legally changed as we know it today. Called “Junior”, “Big Junior”, and “Uncle Junior” by his family and “Leo”, “Rich”, and “Slippery Snake” by his friends, he always required that everyone else call him, “Mr. Richardson” or “Mr. Leo”. As a life-long member of Stewart Chapel Church, Junior gave his life to Christ at an early age. Like his parents, siblings, and family, he enjoyed going to church and learning the Word of God. He loved gospel music, singing in the choirs with his family over the years, and singing in a local gospel quartet in his younger years. He was also a faithful member of the church’s “Men On The Move and the Men’s Coalition”. While Junior loved hearing his family sing, most of all, he loved the Lord! While attending Cainhoy High School in 1953, Junior left Huger and joined several of his elder siblings in Baltimore to find employment to help support his parents and younger siblings. During this new chapter in his life, he met Helen Ruth Newkirk, who became his life-long best friend for 71 years, and his wife of 67 years. Together, they had five daughters. In his early years in Baltimore, Junior worked on many construction projects with his father and brothers. He later worked as a career employee of Baltimore City Public Works Department for over 30 years as a Truck Driver / Mechanic where he received many accolades for his job performance through the years. In addition to working his “9 to 5” job, he worked long hours as a Taxicab driver. An entrepreneur in his own right, he established a business with his brother and friends, and a mechanic business in his local community. He was so good as a mechanic that everyone wanted him to work on their vehicles. Several of his daughters even became his full-time auto mechanic assistant much to the chagrin of Helen. Junior was a prideful and strong-willed man who was a firm believer in taking care of and providing for his family. He always wanted the best for them. The Lord blessed him with many gifts. Two gifts that he had were his ability to relate to and communicate with people. He really loved talking to people. Everyone knew that once he sat down, leaned back, and crossed his legs and started talking,you knew that was it and you would be there for a minute or two. Junior always gave sensible life advice whether you accepted it or not and he never, ever, held back the truth. He believed in hard work and that you could accomplish anything, male or female, that is if you put your mind to it and did the work. He made his daughters work just as hard as, if not harder than, any man. He did not believe in excuses! His motto was “Be Strong! Be a “MAN” even though he had ALL GIRLS! A jack of all trades and a great orator, Junior used his talents to establish a wired CB-network connection from home that enabled him to communicate with other Truck Drivers across the country. Under his renown CB handle, Slippery Snake, Junior spent hours establishing friendships with thousands of Truckers driving across the country. In appreciation for his years of expertise, hundreds of Truckers from across the country came to Baltimore and presented him with the Lifetime Trucker CB Handler Award. Prior to going back home to Huger to live out his retirement, Junior signed off his CB radio for the last time, “Breaker, Breaker, this is Slippery Snake, finally going home, Slippery Snake out….”. During his senior years, Junior continued to enjoy going to church, singing on the choir, fishing and hunting, as well as spending time with his family. Most of all, Junior remained rich in spirit and stood fast in his faith. Junior leaves to continue his legacy and cherish his memory, his devoted wife, Helen Ruth Newkirk- Richardson, their five daughters, Sandra (Ian), Sheila (Anthony), Barbara (Emmitt), Laverne (Cyrus), and Nina (Michael); his daughters: Janet (Levi), Yowanda (Ronald), and Felicia; 13 grandchildren: Larry (Karen), Michael, Jr., Shelena, Sable, Marcus, Jasmin, Shannon, Derrick, Alex (Victoria), Crystal, Devon, Rachel, and Kevin; 12 great-grandchildren: Diante, LaShay, Isaiah, Emmanuel, Charity, Jayden, Katelyn, Xavier, David, Payton, Derrick Jr., Dylan; Jadyn, and Aubry. three great-grandchildren: Maziyon, Charm, and Zy’Aire; three siblings: Sarah, Sammie (Emily), and David (Victoria); two sisters-in-law: Myrtle and Rose and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Junior was preceded in death by his beloved siblings, sisters-in-law, and brothers-in-law: Sonnie, Texanna (Mose), Annamae (Herman), Nelson (Neather), Johnny (MaryJane), Rosetta (Cleveland), Woodrow (Alberta), Arthur (Shirley), Abraham, David Crawford, and Elsie.

Tributes

Mr. Leo Richardson, Jr.

July 23, 1937 - January 26, 2026