Thomas Frank "Tom" Richardson, Sr.

Thomas Frank “Tom” Richardson, Sr., 76, of Macon, Georgia, passed away on Thursday, May 7, 2026. Funeral services will be held at 11:00am, Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at Christ Episcopal Church, with the Reverends Cynthia Knapp and Harriette Simmons officiating. The family will greet friends following the service in the Great Hall. Burial will be private at Riverside Cemetery.

Born on June 13, 1949, in Macon, Tom was the son of the late Dr. Charles Hyatt Richardson, Jr. and Milly Faxon Richardson. He was the much beloved youngest of four siblings. He attended Alexander III Elementary School and graduated from Mark Smith High School, where he excelled in varsity football, basketball and baseball. His mother instilled in him an early love for literature, which deepened during his undergrad years at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Georgia School of Law. In addition to a stellar education, he inherited the benefits and burdens of becoming a lifelong fan of two legendary sports teams (UGA football and UNC basketball).

Tom practiced civil litigation with the firm Chambless, Higdon, Richardson, Katz & Griggs for 45 years with intellect, integrity, and joyful purpose. He was a talented courtroom advocate and believed in the highest ideals of the rule of law. In addition to his legal career, he was a gifted poet, an avid fisherman and golfer, and a member of Christ Episcopal Church. He was a passionate advocate for the public school system and served on numerous boards, including the Booker T. Washington Community Center, Museum of Arts & Sciences, and Middle Georgia Regional Libraries.

Tom founded the Central High School Mock Trial Team, where he coached for 14 years, leading the team to 11 consecutive regional titles and two State final-four appearances. He helped his students channel their gifts, and taught them how to love competition, but win with humility and lose with dignity. His dedicated mentorship and love for the law inspired many former students to become lawyers and law professors.

Above all, he was a deeply loving, and much loved, family member and friend. His eyes lit up when he saw his wife of 52 years, Mary Anne, his children, Anne, Laurie and Tom, and his grandchildren.  He was a patient listener, a wise counselor, and a delight to be with – he took pleasure in life’s joys, big and small. His generous and wry sense of humor, integrity, kindness, and resilience leave an enduring legacy for all who knew him.

Tom is survived by his wife, Mary Anne Berg Richardson of Macon; daughters, Anne Richardson Aldridge (Burns), of Asheville, North Carolina, and Laurie Faxon Richardson (Ian Klaus) of Woodside, California; grandchildren: Burns Lowe Aldridge, Mary Thomas Aldridge, Louisa Klaus, Remy Klaus, Hal Klaus, and Thomas Frank Richardson, III; siblings, Laurie Richardson (Ken Maddox), of Silver Spring, Maryland and Catherine “Taffy” Noble (Doug), of Jacksonville, Florida; and many beloved cousins, nieces, nephews and in-laws.

In addition to his parents, Tom was preceded in death by his son, Thomas Frank Richardson, Jr., and brother, Charles Hyatt "Chuck" Richardson of Macon.

The family wishes to thank caregivers Gary Taylor, Alan Taylor, Minnie Respert, and Keith Coleman for their extraordinary care and support, as well as Family Hospice and Palliative Care.

Gifts may be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, michaeljfox.org or P.O. Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741, or to a charity of the donor’s choice.

Please visit www.hartsmort.com to express condolences.

Hart's Mortuary, 6324 Peake Rd, Macon, GA 31210 has charge of the arrangements.