Martha Sue Gentry Richardson's Obituary
Martha Sue Gentry Richardson passed away on July 28, 2012, at Baptist Trinity Hospice House. She was born in Corinth, MS on January 24, 1934. Martha attended Biggersville High School in Biggersville, MS and married James Lloyd Richardson from Rienzi, MS in 1951. They moved to Memphis, TN. She loved being a stay at home mom; hand making her five children’s clothes, cooking exceptional meals for her family, taking carloads of kids and their friends to the drive-in theater or bowling alley, doctoring scraped knees, mending broken hearts, and creating a home full of laughter and joy. She taught her children strong work ethics, family values and what it meant to have a moral compass. After a successful 20 year career at the Vapors Supper Club, she showed her determined spirit and grit and became a successful business owner opening two popular nightclubs with her sister Ettie, Marlee’s in the 80’s and Kings Inn in the 90’s. During this chapter in her life, she made a positive impact on untold numbers of young people, many who still refer to her as ‘mom’. She enjoyed a well earned retirement in 2002 and could be found almost any given Sunday surrounded by family, food and fun. Her interests included reading, birds, flowers, nature, antiquing and traveling the U.S. as well as abroad. She adored her dogs, Sebastian, Daisy and Charlie. She was preceded in death by her parents, Alton and Hazel [Parvin] Gentry, two sisters, Ettie Lee Phillips and Mary Glen Blakney, two daughters, Dian Holloway and Linda Carol Cordo, one granddaughter, Sheyenne Valentine-Gripp, daughter-in-law, Bonnie [Armstrong] Richardson and grandson-in-law, Jeremy Reynolds. She is survived by her three children, Ben Richardson (Pat) of Oakland, TN, Suzette Gripp (Michael) of Eads, TN and Joe Richardson (Adrianne) of Germantown, TN, 14 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren, one great-great grandchild and numerous extended family members and friends. She was a wonderful mother, sister, friend and ‘Grandma’ and she will be deeply missed by many. The family will receive friends on Saturday, August 4th from 5:00-7:00 at Memorial Park Funeral Home. A Funeral Ceremony will be held on Sunday, August 5, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. in the Riverside Chapel at Memorial Park, with interment to follow in Memorial Park Cemetery.
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