Mrs. Florence Elizabeth Wilfong Richardson passed on Sunday, March 12, 2017 at Hospice Home of Rockingham County.

Funeral services will be Friday, March 17, 2017 at Zion Baptist Church at 12:30 P.M. with a visitation one half hour prior to service.  Burial will follow in Greenview Cemetery. Public viewing will be Thursday, 12:00 noon until 7:00 p.m.

On Sunday March 12, 2017, Sis. Florence Elizabeth Wilfong Richardson transitioned from this life, to a brand new home with the Lord. Florence was born on May 27, 1927 to the late Nannie B. Courts and William Lester Wilfong Sr.

Educated in the local public schools, she attended Booker T. Washington High School, Class of 1946 and later pursued a career in Private Duty Nursing.

At a young age she gave her life to Christ and joined Zion Baptist Church where she served faithfully. Studying and sharing the word of God was a passion that flowed freely to all she encountered. She simply loved the Lord. Through the years she has served as Bible Study Instructor, Vacation Bible School Instructor, Prayer Meeting Leader, Special Worker Women's Home and Foreign Missionary Baptist State Convention and faithful contributor of the Women's Auxiliary to the Rowan Baptist Association, to name a few. She also served her community by volunteering for the Red Cross and served as the first women driver for Council on Aging.

Her loving and sometimes straight forward spirit allowed her to touch many lives. When she laughed the entire room would light up. She found joy in telling family stories and laughing after every other word before finishing.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by beloved husband Rufus Richardson, one sister Virginia Wilfong Harriston and 3 brothers William Lester Wilfong Jr., Phate Earl Wilfong and John Louis Wilfong.

She leaves to cherish her loving memory two daughters Maxine Wilfong Thomas and Mrs. Chyrese Wilfong Watkins (Melvin) both of Reidsville; one godson Cornell Fleming Baltimore, Md; one goddaughter Mrs. Johnette H. Scales (Ronnie) Reidsville; three sisters Frances Bowick, of Wilksboro, Pauline Fleming of Baltimore Md. and Mary Wilfong of Wilksboro; seven grandchildren Donna Parker Hathoway of Duluth, GA, Roslyn Parker of Reidsville, Tyrone 'Tony' Gibbs(Shai) of Houston Tx, Tillman 'Rock' Thomas, Mrs. Venus Womble (Darrell) of Reidsville, DeAndra Gibbs of Conroe, Tx, Tamara Watlins of Reidsville; two step grandchildren Heavenly Carrol and Renee Cook of Reidsville; 21 great grandchildren a host of cousins and friends.