Vincent “Sam” Richards (1960-2024)
On April 10th, 2024, Sam Richards passed away peacefully at home with his loving family by his side.
Born on September 13th, 1960 to Anita and Vincent Richards, Sam lived his rambunctious young life in Bellevue, TN with his four siblings Anita, Beverly, Harry, and Petey, along with many exotic pets like a monkey, a miniature horse, and a feisty wiener dog.
Sam was always athletically inclined and sports minded, he excelled in both football and baseball in school. He was a graduate of Bellevue High School. On September 28, 1985, he married his childhood sweetheart, Leigh Ann Cook. They raised one son, Jake, and two daughters, Jessy and Jilli. Sam worked many jobs in his life, but he was most proud of his accomplishments at the Nashville Metro Tax Assessors office.
Sam was strong willed and stubborn at times, but he also had a big heart and a wonderful sense of humor. He was clever and full to the brim with knowledge gained through all of his life experiences as a gardener, a coach, a fisherman, and a contractor – he could fix or build anything.
Sam was known for his extraordinary pancake making, his presence at his children’s sporting events, and for his love of the Braves. He loved to take a whole week of vacation every year around his birthday to bring his family to Panama City Beach, where he spent most of his time chest deep in the ocean digging for sand dollars. He spent many happy days crappie fishing with his best friend and brother, Harry. Sam was a long time member of Temple Hills and was known for his excellent short game. Most recently, he was proud to become “Pops,” to his first granddaughter, Lillian Beverly Cotter.
Sam was preceded in death by his father, Vincent, and his mother, Anita. Sam is survived by his partner, Leigh Ann, three children, Jake Richards (Jenny Kline), Jessy Cotter (Dylan Cotter), and Jilli Mayo (Michael Mayo), his granddaughter Lilly Cotter, his sisters Beverly Hendricks (Rob) and Anita Marshall, and his brothers Harry Richards (Judy) and Petey Richards (Leigh) and nieces and nephews John Richards, Jennifer Richards, Gray Richards(Millee), Callie Richards, Vanessa Dixon (Mike), Stacy Boyett (Brooks), Elizabeth Robinson (Travis), Katie Hendricks, Kelly Gregory (Bryant).
Everyone is invited to share memories at Sam’s celebration of life from 2-4pm with a Memorial Service to follow at 4pm on May 5th, 2024 at Pegram Community Club (453 Thompson Rd, Pegram, TN 37143)
Donations can be made to First Tee of Tennessee (www.firstteetennessee.org)