Cover photo for Virginia Marie Richards's Obituary
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Virginia Marie Richards

March 2, 1947 — September 20, 2021

Virginia Marie Richards

A visitation for Virginia Marie Richards, 74, will be held 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Friday, September 24, 2021 at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2201 Airline Drive, Bossier City, Louisiana 71111. A private graveside service will be held the following day for family only. Officiating will be a long-time family friend, Pastor Bill Saxby. Virginia was born March 2, 1947 in Shreveport, Louisiana to Roy Arnold and Eunice Marie Dowden. She passed away Monday, September 20, 2021 after a courageous battle with cancer. Her greatest accomplishment in life was being a mother to her three children she loved with all her heart. She was unique in that her daughters and son in law were also part of this circle. She never made a distinction of being in-laws, just considered them her own. Virginia was so proud of her grandchildren and didn't get to spend nearly the amount of time she wanted, but the time she did spend will always be remembered and cherished. She was always encouraging others and always left her mark no matter if it was jobs, relationships, things or places, Virginia would always leave them better than she found them. Virginia had a heart for ministry and longed to pursue studies in the field of therapy to join with her love for God and desire to see God's people live according to their gifts. Virginia had a few businesses in her lifetime starting with a bakery in Flint Michigan in the late 70s, then on to the floral industry in Florida during the 80s and later Shreveport and Bossier City with Friday Flowers during the 90s. She was wonderfully artistic. She worked for several other places in the Shreveport and Bossier area, including Lampe Berger, driving a school bus for the parish, and working as food and beverage manager for Holiday Lanes. It was often joked about from many of the patrons and league bowlers that if Virginia wasn't the cook on deck that day, they would just try again later. She was the cook at Willow Point Baptist Church during the 90s and later for Waller Baptist Church. So much love went into her cooking, she enjoyed giving those extra helpings and even sneaking the pastor's kids a few extra cookies when they came behind the counter. It was just in her nature to feed people, their souls and their bellies. Some very special conversations were had over the years behind those counters. Virginia had many interests. She enjoyed reading, a good crossword puzzle and good music. She also enjoyed cooking, gardening, the beach, had a love and gift for writing, loved studying the Bible and listening to pastors from all over the country, politics, was a fierce believer in justice and fighting for her values and would challenge you to think for yourself and bring an authentic point of view to the table on any given subject. You didn't talk to Virginia very long not knowing where she stood and what she loved. She was a constant that way. Anyone that knew her also knew her love of monkeys, all kinds of monkeys including Chimpanzees, Apes, Gorillas, Capuchins and Orangutans. She always desired to have one of her own. Virginia cherished many family pets over the years. Muff, Apri, Skeeter, Spuds, Grits, her special girl Sam, Goose, Tattoo, Juliet, Rylie, Skittle, Rudy, Romeo, and Zipper, to name a few. She had a wonderful laugh and loved smart humor. She would often get a good laugh over the humor from her sons when they got together and of course, the occasional Saturday Night Live episode. She even bought her son-in-law Michael a cowbell for Christmas one year! She had a light about her that was noticeable and a zest for life that no matter the amount of struggle and hard times, was never extinguished. Virginia is survived by her husband Michael Richards; children Kelly Myers and wife, Kelly Ann, Chance Myers and wife, Melissa and Jennifer Johnson and husband Michael, from her first marriage to Grant Myers; grandchildren, Charlie, Billy, Timmy, Ruthie, Abagail, Trenton, Dillon, Alayna, Raegan, Christian, Jude; sister-in-law Guelda Lambert with whom she shared a connection around their strong faith in the Lord; brothers, are Willie Dowden, Roy Dowden, and Richard Dowden; a host of other family members from her husband's side to include sons, Sean, Adam and wife Sadonnya, and Caleb; daughters, Melissa and husband Chris and Traciee and husband Mike as well as a host of nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank the Willis Knighton team of doctors assigned to her care throughout the years, Dr. MacDonald and staff, Dr. Wang and staff, Dr. Louka and a longtime family physician and friend, Dr. Larry Flake. We'd also like to thank Dr. Newman of Oschner LSU Shreveport for his loving care and special attention to surgical details that gave Virginia more time to spend with her family on her own terms. Finally, all Hospice staff, especially nurses Angela and Lucie, as well as social worker Summer. Her family is so grateful for your loving care and friendship during difficult days. You are a credit to your field. Finally, Virginia desired that all she came in contact with would know the love of God and accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. Scripture that meant so much to her was: Isaiah 30:18 - Lord, teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalm 31:8 - You have not handed me over to the enemy; You have set my feet in a large place. Psalm 40:1-3 I waited patiently for the LORD; He inclined to me and heard my cry. He lifted me up from the pit of despair, out of the miry clay; He set my feet upon a rock and made my footsteps firm. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.
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