Robert Price Richardson (1896 - 1967)

Born 8 Mar 1896 in Memphis, Shelby, Tennessee, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Agnes (Rowland) Richardson — married 23 Jun 1923 in Augusta, GA

Died 23 Apr 1967 at age 71 in Pine Bluff, Jefferson, Arkansas, United States

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Biography

Robert was born in 1896. He was the son of Edgar Richardson and Anna Price.

He graduated from Southern Presbyterian Seminary with a BA in 1917 and then enlisted in the U.S. Army. He was a PFC in the U.S. Army Air Corps Aviation Section Signal Corps in Port Gibson, MS and was honorably discharged on 30 November 1918.

He then attended the Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, VA, graduating with a Bachelor of Divinity degree in 1923 and was ordained in the Abington (VA) Presbytery the same year.^[1]

He married Agnes Rowland in Augusta, GA in 1923.

With the Reid Presbyterian Church in Augusta as their sponsor, they were missionaries to China for 28 years beginning in Taichow China until 1937, when they returned together through the Port of Seattle on board the S.S. Andrew Jackson. ^[2] They did return on furlough in 1929 on board the S.S. President Grant. ^[3]

They had children Susan Myers Richardson, Rev. Robert Price Richardson, Lt. Col. William Rowland Richardson and Edgar Morrison Richardson, all born in China.

Rev. Richardson was awarded a Doctorate of Divinity at Southern Presbyterian University in 1938. ^[4]

They returned to China to continue their missionary work. Agnes and the children returned to San Francisco in April,1941 on board the S.S. Calvin Cooledge.^[5] Rev. Richardson (and his first cousin Dr. Robert Price, Sr.) were caught in China when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and (they were) held until returned as exchange prisoners on the Swedish repatriation ship, the Gripsholm, in September 1942. ^[6] He returned to China in 1945, was Regional Director of the United Nations Rehabilitation Relief Administration until 1947, and finally, after a six month furlough in the USA ^[7], returned to Taichow, Kiangsu, and continued evangelical & educational work until being evacuated for the last time in 1951 (after the Chinese Communist Revolution). ^[4]

They returned to Augusta and were involved in church work, promoting inter-faith relations and missionary causes. Robert "Pete" Richardson was then named Vice President of Development at Rhodes College (formerly "Southwestern") in 1956 after the school relocated to Memphis and he remained there until 1971.

He and Agnes then moved to Pine Bluff, Arkansas where he served as Associate Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church there until 1966.

Rev. Dr. Richardson passed away in 1967 and was buried in the Elmwood Cemetery, Memphis Shelby, TN. ^[8]

Sources

1. ↑ [1] Rev. E.C. Scott, D.D. (Stated Clerk of the General Assembly) Compiler MINISTERIAL DIRECTORY of the PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, U.S. 1861-1941 1942, Published by Order of the General Assembly Press of Von Brockmann-Jones Co. Austin, Texas p.616
2. ↑ [2]: "Washington, Seattle, Passenger Lists, 1890-1957," database with images, FamilySearch. Robert Price Richardson (and Agnes Rowland Richardson), 1937; citing Seattle, King, Washington, United States.
3. ↑ [3]: "California, San Francisco Passenger Lists, 1893-1953," database with images, FamilySearch. Robert Price Richardson, 1929; citing San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} [4] Rev. E.C. Scott, D.D. (Stated Clerk of the General Assembly) Compiler MINISTERIAL DIRECTORY of the PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, U.S. 1861-1941 1942, Revised and Supplemented 1942-1950 1950, Published by Order of the General Assembly Press of Von Brockmann-Jones Co. Austin, Texas p.593
5. ↑ [5]: "United States, California, List of United States Citizens Arriving at San Francisco, 1930-1949", database, FamilySearch. Agnes Rowland Richardson, 1941.
6. ↑ [6]: "New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1957," database with images, FamilySearch. Robert P Richardson, 1942; citing Immigration, New York, New York, United States.
7. ↑ [7]: "Hawaii, Passenger Lists of Airplanes departing Honolulu, 1942-1948," database with images, FamilySearch. Robert Richardson, 1947; citing Immigration, 1947, Ship NC 74628)
8. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #153714019 Robert Price Richardson (1896-1967)

• Carter, Beverly Price. GENEALOGICAL NOTES Of Interest To DESCENDANTS OF ROBERT AND MARY BLACK PRICE. Private booklet (1932, 1953).
• [8]: "United States, GenealogyBank Historical Newspaper Obituaries, 1815-2011", database, FamilySearch. Rev Robert Price Richardson, 1967.
• [9]: "United States, GenealogyBank Historical Newspaper Obituaries, 1815-2011", database, FamilySearch. Rev Robert Price Richardson, 1967.
• [10]: "United States, Historical Newspaper Obituaries, 1815-2011", database, FamilySearch. Dr. Robert Price Richardson, 1967.
• [11]: "Family Tree," database entry for Robert Price Richardson contributed by various users.