Life and Legacy

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called    according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

Kermit Nell Richardson Stevens was the daughter of the late Albert S. Richardson Sr. and Mary Ernestine Samuels Richardson. She was born on June 30, 1933 in Deridder, Louisiana and entered into everlasting rest on February 10, 2017 in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

She is survived by her husband of 57 years August Stevens and their seven children Terrell Gray of San Francisco, California; Robert Taylor (Barbara) and Byron Stevens of Seattle WA; Sherri Stevens and Reginald Taylor of Lake Charles, LA; Bonita Rogers (George) and Karla Redmond of Houston, TX.

She is also survived by 10 grandchildren Jared Gray, Byron Stevens Jr., Ryan Pereira, Quinn Taylor, Jonathan Redmond, Steven Rogers, Nicholas Rogers, Kyla Gray, Kayla Taylor and Keara Taylor. She also has three Great- grandchildren Lillie, Jacob and Auyun. Also Included in her survivors are a host of devoted cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

She was preceded in death by both her parents Albert and Mary Richardson along with her siblings Albert Richardson Jr., Rupert Florence Richardson, Samuels Theo Richardson, Essex Laws Richardson and Rosemary Nancy Richardson. She was the last survivor of her immediate family.

She accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized at Evergreen Baptist Church in Lake Charles, LA where her work for the Lord began. Through the years she worked in various women's ministries and taught vacation bible school. She along with her husband August later united in membership with New Light Baptist where she was a member until her passing.

She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Education from Grambling State University in Grambling, LA. She was also a life member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and the NAACP which are time honored traditions of the Richardson family.

Upon completing her education, she began her career as an educator at Vinton High School, in Vinton, Louisiana and later moving to Molo Middle School in Lake Charles, Louisiana as part of the Calcasieu Parish School Board System.  In the early 1970's, she continued her work as an educator moving to Forest K. White Middle School. It is here where she along with other prominent Black educators were the first to integrate the teaching staff at Forest K. White Middle School post-civil rights legislation enacted in the late 1960's and early 1970's. Her work as an educator was near and dear to her heart with academic excellence being the forefront of her teaching platform. She taught both English and US History subjects she loved tremendously. Further evidence of her love for the arts, is exemplified by the naming of her son Byron whose name was chosen for her fondness of the works by the English literary Poet Lord Byron. She retired from teaching in 1989 after working for over 30 plus years to educate so many children in the SW Louisiana region.

No matter her role, title or occupation no other title mattered more to her than Wife, Mama and Gran. She gave everything for family nothing came before them and her love the Lord. She was loved by all who knew her both in the community, former students and church family. She was strong razor sharp and her integrity was unyielding. Her love for the Lord and family have left everlasting foot prints on our lives and is now our guide to follow for generations to come.