John Coakley Richardson

John Coakley Richardson of Clemson, South Carolina and husband of Mary Martha Blackmon Richardson died on April 14, 2016.He was born in Big Spring, Kentucky to John Thomas and Ann Mary Coakley Richardson.  John graduated from Titusville High School in Florida and Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky.  He earned his doctorate in special education from the University of Kentucky, writing his dissertation on the effects of desegregation in schools.  John was awarded the Order of the Palmetto, the highest civilian honor awarded by the state of South Carolina for his work in rural schools and work with children with special needs.  While at Clemson University, John was a member of Clemson United Methodist Church and a volunteer with Meals on Wheels.  He served two years active duty in the U. S. Army and another 18 years in the U.S. Army Reserves.John taught Industrial Arts in Eau Gallie Junior High School in Florida, taught and coached football and women’s’ basketball at Lamar High School.  He was principal of Lamar Elementary and worked at the Pee Dee Center Education Center in Florence, SC.  He taught at Coker College and finished his 36-year teaching career as a professor of Special Education at Clemson University.  He was a certified school psychologist and provided educational testing across the state of South Carolina, at the Meyer Center for Special Children and at Greenville Hospital System Neo-natal Intensive Care and Follow-up Unit.Surviving are his wife of 56 years, Mary Martha Blackmon Richardson; two daughters, Martha Kaye Rick (Ron) of Charlotte, NC; Sarah Ann Turpin (Tom) of Clemson, SC; one son, Robert (Bob) Richardson (Beth) of Harrisonburg, VA; sister, Rosemary Johnson of Huntington Beach, CA; brother, Bob Richardson of Vero Beach, FL; grandchildren, Andrew Skelton, Olivia Rick, John Thomas and Will Turpin, Sykes and Abby Richardson; and 8 nieces/nephews.A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM on Sunday, April 24 at Clemson United Methodist Church.  The family will receive friends after the service in the fellowship hall.Memorials may be made to Clemson United Methodist Church, PO Box 590, Clemson, SC 29631 or to the John C. Richardson Scholarship Fund at Clemson University, PO Box 1889, Clemson SC 29633-9972.Condolences may be expressed online at www.robinsonfuneralhomes.com or at Duckett-Robinson Funeral Home, Central.