Earl Waldo Richardson was born in Charleston, South Carolina on January 9, 1929.  He was the seventh child of Cornelius and Margaret Ann Richardson.  He commenced elementary education on James Island and later graduated from Burke High School in Charleston, South Carolina.  He attended Voorhees Junior College before matriculating at South Carolina State University from which he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1949.  Earl was called into Mandatory Military Service in 1951.

He joined the United States Army and served during the Korean War. After completing mandatory service, he continued his education at Howard University where he met the love of his life Marie Corbin.  They were married on October 21, 1955.  Earl continued to serve the United States as a federal employee at the Department of Health and Human Services through retirement.  Through the course of this employment as a social worker, Earl helped countless children and families.  He loved helping anyone in need.  He loved his own family in a very special and heartfelt way, especially his beloved daughter Camille.
Faith and heritage were strong recurrent themes throughout Earl’s life.   He grew up in the church and, upon settling in Washington DC, he served for many years as a Deacon at Northminister Presbyterian Church.   He never forgot his upbringing on James Island, which he dearly loved, so much so that he was a long standing member of the Washington, DC Chapter of the Charleston Club.  

Earl was a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated.  His commitment to preserving his family’s heritage combined with a strong sense of civic engagement resulted in his extensive work with various libraries and museums including the Carter G Woodson Library and the Anacostia Community Museum in our Nation’s Capitol.  He also became an active member of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, Inc. for which he received the Council Award of Special Recognition.  Earl’s other hobbies included playing golf and gardening.  He was particularly fond of planting vegetables and flowers for landscape beautification.  

Earl was a generous man who gave freely of himself to many people. He leaves to cherish fond and loving memories a devoted family: wife Marie Corbin Richardson; daughter Camille Richardson; brother Cornelius Richardson of James Island, South Carolina; two sisters Ethel R. Holmes of Greensboro, North Carolina, and Ophelia Harrison of Richmond, Virginia; sister-in-law Viola Marie Richardson of James Island, South Carolina; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins  and friends.

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