Marilyn Tackett Richmond

Bigbee – Marilyn Vonese Tackett Richmond, 74, passed away on Sunday, December 11, 2016, at NMMC, Tupelo. Born on June 16, 1942, in the Bigbee Community, she was the daughter of the late Woodrow Owen and Mary Louise Bailey Tackett.

Marilyn was a graduate of Amory High School, Class of 1960. She furthered her education by attending The W in 1964; Georgia State University with a degree in Economics in 1973; and Mississippi State University with a double Masters in 1987. In 1990, she received an Associate degree from ICC in Computer Application while teaching and training at Kerr-McGee. On June 14, 1964, Marilyn married the love of her life, Robert “Bob” R. Richmond, Jr. A devoted teacher who felt that, “Every student could learn,” she enjoyed seeing her students grow, excel, graduate from high school and college, and begin their work careers.

Having a passion for Biblical studies, Marilyn was a member of St. Andrews United Methodist Church. She was a Sunday school and Church Training teacher; a Women’s Bible Study Teacher; taught Discipleship Training Classes; and served for many years in the church cantatas.

Marilyn loved genealogy, studying, reading, and gaining knowledge. Her family including her husband, her children and her grandchildren, were special to her.

During Marilyn’s career as a teacher, she enjoyed many friendships while at Robert E. Lee High School, Springfield, VA; Decatur High School, Decatur GA; Monroe County Vo-Tech; and Hamilton High School Vo-Tech. Active with the BETA Club, she was named Star Teacher numerous times by her students while at Hamilton. A dedicated teacher, Marilyn retired after 45 years in 2009.

Very involved in her community, Marilyn was an active volunteer with Amory Food Pantry, Meals on Wheels, and UMW at St. Andrews. She was a member of Amory Pilot Club, Monroe County and State Democratic Committees, and was a 2000 delegate for the Democratic National Convention in Los Angelos. A strong advocate for the 2nd Amendment, Marilyn was passionate about good leadership in elected officials.

In her free time, Marilyn enjoyed watching British movies on DVD; reading; keeping up with the current political scene; antiquing/junking; listening to a variety of music, including country and classic rock. PBS radio and television were included in her favorites. Wanda Day and Bob-O were her companions in their junking and antiquing excursions. Christen Smith, who has preceded her in death, was her coffee drinking buddy and her traveling companion. Jackie Davis was another coffee drinking buddy.

Marilyn Richmond is survived by her husband, Robert Raymond “Bob “Richmond, Jr., Bigbee; daughters, Robin Carroll (Roger) and Rana Richmond, Amory; son, Trip Richmond, Amory; grandchildren, Destyne Racqual (Dee) Pickens (Justin) and Simon Woody Carroll, Amory; great-grandchild, Haven Jade Pickens; nieces, Kathleen Richmond of VA; Felicia Lehman Grant and Castle Hayne of NC; nephews, Kevin Starkey and Fuquay Vartina of VA; Eric Starkey of Wilmington, NC; Allen Sackadorf of Broadlands, VA; great-niece, Rachel Sackadorf; great-nephews, Joshua Sackadorf and Dylan Sackadorf; special friends, Wanda Day, Christina Cox, Dana Dean Sloan, Judy & Russell Butler, Linda Bunch and family.

Her Funeral Service will be at 11:00 AM, December 15 at E.E. Pickle Funeral Home, Amory, with Chaplain Mark Thornton and Rev. Brian Gordon officiating. Burial will be in Liberty Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Edd Finley, Bill Lay, Daniel Cresap, Jason Hill, Trip Richmond, Jimmy Glenn, Malcom Glenn and Nick McDaniel. Honorary pallbearers will be Ralph Salter, Robert Shelly, Ron Nye, Charles Blankenship, William Brown and all her former Hamilton High School students.

Visitation will be from 5 – 8 PM, Wednesday, at the funeral home.

Memorials may be given to Meals on Wheels in Amory; St Jude; Lupus Foundation; MS Broadcasting System; or Quality Education Foundation, c/o Dee Allison.

Memories and condolences may be shared with her family at EEPickleFuneralHome.com.