Mr. Bertram Richardson

Passed 03/06/2019

Mr. Bertram O. Richardson passed Celebration of Life will be on Tuesday March 12, 2019 at 6:00 PM at Peace Lutheran Church. 1679 Columbia Dr. Decatur, GA 30032. Public viewing will also be at 5:00 PM until time time of service. Burial will be Friday March 15,2019 Gilmore Funeral Home in Queens, New York will handle final arrangements 718-528-7765.

Bertram Oswald Richardson was born in Betervawagting (BV), in the former British Guiana on July 15th, 1924 to Walter and Geraldine (née Liverpool) Richardson. He was predeceased by his two siblings Walter and Olive (Luncheon). Sonny, as he was fondly known to many, spent his youth in BV where he completed his formal education. At the age of 20 he left for Georgetown, the capitol, and became a sailor's apprentice which led him to a career as a merchant marine during World War II. He travelled the world during those years and eventually settled in New York in 1953. The world was very different in those days for immigrants but despite the many hardships, he was able to open his own pest control business which he successfully ran until his retirement in 1991. His first son Leonard (Moses), who was born in Guyana, predeceased him. His first marriage to Bessie Richardson (née Anderson) produced another son, Bertram Jr. He later married Sybil Richardson (née Chung) in 1964 and together they raised her son Colin Armand Frank. In 1991, he and Sybil relocated to Decatur, Georgia from New York where they spent many happy years of retirement among friends and family. Sybil predeceased him in 2008 and left a void in his life from which he never fully recovered. He longed for the day when he would join her in Heaven. Uncle Sonny was a devoted husband, father, and an uncle to the generations of the young people in his life. He was very much admired and respected in his community of neighbors and friends as he was very open and willing to help anyone in need. He will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him. He is survived by his son, Bertram Jr. (Ruth) and stepson Colin, grandsons Bertram III, (Zenobia), Gregory (Desiree), and Darryl; Great grandchildren Kyle, Zachariah, Ayana, Isaiah, and Aiden; Nieces Brenda, Sylvan (Vincent) and Cicely (Antonio); Grandnieces and nephews Seannita, Vincent, Sherry and Rene; Great Grandnephews and nieces Sean, Sonja, Tariq, Sharif, Erica, and Deonte; Great Great Grandnephew Eli; A wide circle of nieces and nephews; and Maple David and Mona Cornwall, who faithfully and compassionately took care of him in his waning years.