Thomas Monroe Richards III

Thomas Monroe Richards III, of Anna, Illinois, passed into the full presence of his loving father God after a 16-year battle with young onset Alzheimer's disease surrounded by the love of his family on Wednesday, November 24, 2021. Tom dedicated a good part of his 71 years of life serving others. He earned a Special Education Bachelor of Science degree from SIU in 1972 and proceeded to teach people with developmental disabilities at what is now the Clyde L. Choate Mental Health and Development Center in Anna, IL. There Tom also served as Union President, Assistant Director, Director, and Network Manager, overseeing the IL state run mental health agencies in 16 southern Illinois counties. In the early 80s he also served as Director at the Alton Mental Health Center, Alton, IL. With a growing passion for the underserved senior population Tom earned a Masters Degree in Social Work from SIU. He worked at Delta Center in Cairo, IL to finish out his career of service. Tom’s kindness, humility, and sweet, quirky sense of humor will be missed by many. He loved his horses and living in the country. He thoroughly enjoyed SIU Basketball, trips abroad, all kinds of music, arts and culture. But mostly Tom loved people; he deeply loved his family, and took special joy in his children, grandchildren, two foreign exchange daughters, and his Goddaugher with the exciting, full life they provided. He dearly loved the people he served and the people he worked with. He was a mentor, a missionary, an elder and a disciple of Christ. These words from a slip of paper found in Tom’s wallet embodied how he lived, “And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.” -Marianne Williamson, A Return to Love: Reflections on a Principle of “A Course in Miracles” Husband to Jenny Richards and the late Pamela Moreland Richards, mother of his two children, Seth Joseph Richards and daughter Courtney Beth Misener (Derek), Son to the late Reverend Thomas M. Richards Jr. and the late Mary Elizabeth Richards “Betty”, brother to Mike (Darlene), Linda Daugherty (Mick) and Jim (Joann); grandfather to Presli Elizabeth Garner, and Grayson Thomas Garner. Extended father to two foreign exchange students Cinthya Guerra Luna – Peru, Hanna Markos – Germany, and Godpoppa to Tyeisha Mallory Visitation will take place on Friday, December 3, 2021 at Crain Funeral Home in Anna from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. and again Saturday, December 4, 2021 from 10:00 a.m. until the hour of the service at Crain Funeral Home in Anna. Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 4, 2021 at Crain Funeral Home in Anna. Interment will take place at the Cobden Cemetery. The funeral service will be live streamed on the Crain Funeral Home Facebook page and will be archived for future views at the conclusion of the service. Memorials may be made to Alzheimer’s Association Illinois Chapter of Marion, Rosiclare Rehab and Health Care Center, or Arrowleaf, formerly Delta Center of Cairo,and will be accepted at the funeral home. Crain Funeral Home in Anna-Jonesboro has been entrusted with arrangements.

Thomas Monroe Richards III

December 17, 1950 - November 24, 2021