Clara E. Richardson

Clara Ester Richardson of Bel Air, MD, died on November 29, 2007 at Upper Chesapeake Medical Center, she was 93 years old. Born January 12, 1914, in Troutdale, VA to the late Orley Gordon and Dora Belle Reedy. She attended Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, VA and graduated from Bel Air High School in 1931. She graduated from Virginia Intermont College in 1933, with an elementary school certificate. She was employed as a school teacher in Grassy Creek, NC and for the Harford County Public School System. She taught at the last one room school house in Harford County at Magnolia. She was employed at the Bel Air Branch of the Harford County Public Library for 23 years as a Book Mobile and the first Children’s Librarian. A rocking chair, dedicated to Clara, for the young mothers to rock their children, is located in the children’s section of the Bel Air Public Library. She was a member of Oak Grove Baptist Church for 75 years, since its inception in 1932. Serving in many volunteer positions and founding the church library. She was a member of the Delta Kappa Gamma Honorary Society and proclaimed “A Harford Living Treasure” by the County Council of Harford County in 2002. She was an expert on the “LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRARIE”, by traveling to Laura Wilder’s Homes in South Dakota and Missouri. She presented over 90 programs to various school systems on the east coast. She donated many “Little House on the Prarie” and frontier life items to the Harford County Public Library system for future generations.

Mrs. Richardson is survived by two sons, Hugh G. and Ronald L. Richardson of Bel Air, MD; one sister, Jessie Wagner of North East, MD; two grandchildren, Valerie Rayfield of Salisbury, MD and Michael Richardson of Bel Air, MD; three great-
grandchildren, Joshua Rayfield, Ryan Richardson, and Shane Waller of Salisbury, MD. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by a grandson, William Richardson of Bel Air, son of Ronald and Joanne Richardson.

Contributions may be made in Mrs. Richardson’s name to Oak Grove Baptist Church, 2106 Churchville Rd., Bel Air, MD 21015.