Elpha "Teena" Ernestine (Patton) Richardson

Elpha “Teena” Ernestine (Patton) Richardson passed away on September 14, 2021 in Buford, Ga. She was 86 years old. Born to Otis and Ernestine Patton on Nov. 4, 1934 in Oxford, Ohio, she was the youngest of three children. Teena is survived by her husband of 63 years, Vernal Edward Richardson, whom she married in 1958, son Ernest and daughter-in-law Tara Richardson, daughter Patricia and son-in-law Greg Niemann, and son Edward Scott Richardson. Grandchildren include Evan and granddaughter-in-law Patricia and great-granddaughter Sophie, Valerie, Derek and granddaughter-in-law Caroline, Clare, David and Liam, and family dog Scherzo. A Memorial Service will be held at St. Clare’s Episcopal Church in Blairsville, Ga. on Sept. 29. The Gentleness of Your Hands Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. Proverbs 31:31 Thank you Mom for the gentleness of your hands That applied a brush to white paper and turned it from bleak to charming With watercolor images like a scarecrow and pumpkins A farm girl and her dog walking to school And, skating on a frozen pond, children with rosy cheeks and long fluttering scarves. Your gentle hands carefully placed the needle on a vinyl disc. And when you looked at us your brown eyes sparkled. You smiled and announced, “This is the Scottish Fantasy.” Our living-room in Baltimore with its yellow and gold shag carpet Became a concert hall. Not the kind where children must sit still. In our concert hall we danced and waved our arms like we were conducting This work by Max Bruch for orchestra and solo violin. The music surrounded us like the highlands of Scotland. Mom, you were married 63 years to Dad, a violinist and music educator. In your way you were an educator too. Your gentle hands turned for us the pages of library books Full-page glossy photos of nature and national parks. Subjects that inspire artists. You showed us their paintings. You studied art education at Indiana University in Bloomington The midwest town where you grew up. You taught us to notice form and color. And you especially loved the paintings of Vincent van Gogh. His birds fly over yellow and gold wheatfields. His sunflowers remind me of you. Autumn gold, white winter lace, the tender green of spring and summer’s shady grove You watched the tree tops from your mountain home in Young Harris, Georgia Where you and Dad retired. From your artist’s table you painted watercolor greeting cards To send to grandchildren living far away. With gentle hands perhaps you paused to scratch Scherzo behind the ears, As he lounged by your feet. Always listening to music, your favorite song was “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” A song about the home we yearn for. You’re there now Mom. Home with your Lord and Saviour. We remember the gentleness of your hands.

Elpha "Teena" Ernestine (Patton) Richardson

November 4, 1934 - September 14, 2021