Samuel "Sam" Nolen Richardson

Samuel Nolen “Sam” Richardson, 82, passed away peacefully on September 19, 2025, at home surrounded by his family.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 23, 2025, at the Chapel of Nave Funeral Home with Bro. J.T. Baggett officiating. Burial will follow in Richardson Cemetery.

The Richardson family will receive friends on Monday from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., and again from 12:00 p.m. until the hour of service Tuesday afternoon.

Sam was born on July 1, 1943, in Houston County, the son of Andrew Ewing Richardson, Jr., and Laura Nolen Richardson. Sam graduated from Houston County High School in 1961 and Austin Peay State University in 1965 with a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Arts. After initially working at Southern Gage, he began a career of more than 40 years with the State of Tennessee Department of Human Services, serving as County Director in Houston County and later as a regional director in Child Care Services.

Sam was a lifelong farmer. He worked on the family farm before purchasing a farm of his own and building a home off Cave Orchard Road. You could often find him on the porch swing after a long day of work.

Sam served in the 230th Engineer Battalion of the Tennessee Army National Guard from 1966 to 1971. He was deployed to Memphis after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

He is survived by his wife of 46 years, A. Susan Richardson; daughter, Laura Phillips (Dustin) of Houston County; two sons, Timothy Richardson (Wendy) of Tennessee Ridge and Mark Richardson (Julia Harris) of Takoma Park, Maryland; two sisters, Nelda Ellingson (Billy) of Houston County and Mary Nan Hall (James) of Clarksville; a brother, Fred Richardson (Cynthia) of Houston County; and five grandchildren, Makayla (20), Wyatt (9), Zara (8), Hayden (7), and Penelope (7).

Serving as pallbearers will be Gene Hogan, Ian Irons, Junior Brooks, Michael Huffman, Martin Huffman, and Andrew White.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Lockhart Chapel, P.O. Box 247, Erin, TN, 37061.

Arrangements are in the care of Nave Funeral Home, (931) 289-4277, NaveFuneralHomes.com.