Ladian V. Richardson

We regret to announce the passing of our beloved Mother, Ladian V. (Jeffers) Richardson, age 94. Ladian was born on September 14, 1931, to the late Maude Jeffers and Hubert Maynard on the island of Nevis, West Indies.

In her early 20s, Ladian migrated to Curaçao, Dutch West Indies, for employment purposes, where she met her late husband, David A. Richardson. The two later married and Ladian eventually moved to the island of Anguilla, British West Indies, the birthplace of David. At the time of David’s death in 2015, the couple had been married fifty-seven years. Their union produced six children. Ladian was predeceased by her infant son, David Richardson, Jr. and one grandchild. She leaves behind to cherish her memory, her son, Vincent Maynard, and four daughters: Elvina Richardson, Audrey Richardson, Jasmine Richardson, and Selma Richardson, and their families. Ladian is survived by eighteen grandchildren, and seventeen great-grandchildren, too numerous to mention. Also surviving are her five sisters Vencina Walters of England, Dorothy Clarke of St. Kitts, West Indies, Hyacinth Walters and Patricia Bernier of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Sylvia Jeffers of St. Maarten, Kingdom of the Netherlands, and their families.

Ladian moved to St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands in 1979, and later migrated to Worcester, Massachusetts, where she resided for the last forty years until her peaceful passing. She was a church-going woman and found a church home wherever she lived. Her last and final church home was Mt. Olive Pentecostal Church on Highland Street in Worcester, where she taught Sunday School and ultimately became the Church Mother, a title she wore with deep pride and devotion.

In celebrating the life of Ladian, we remember a woman whose gentle humor and quiet strength filled every room she entered. She had a way of turning the simplest moments, like tending to her beloved plants and garden or baking her famous carrot cake, into cherished memories we’ll hold dear forever. Her love was a constant thread in the fabric of our lives, shown in the little things she did, like the way she’d sit with you on the porch just to watch the sunset.

Beyond her warmth and kindness, she was a deeply religious woman who lived her life according to the word of God. As a Church Mother, she had many close friends, and she found joy in serving and guiding others and praying faithfully for her Pastor and congregation. Just as she was a mother to her church family, she was also an amazing mother to her own children, nurturing them with love, faith, and gentle guidance.

Ladian became a pillar of the community wherever she lived, often feeding those in need during times of hardship and making donations to help the less fortunate around the world. In quieter moments, she was a gifted crafter, sewing clothing, crocheting beautiful blankets and hats for her family, newborns, and the unsheltered, and creating handmade treasures that we will always cherish.

But what made her truly unforgettable was her delightful combination of sass, style, and grace. She had a delicate yet sassy spirit that shone through whenever she stood up for her beliefs and loved ones. With a gentle smile and her sharp wit, she defended those she cared about fiercely, always balancing her strength with kindness. Her faith, her generosity, her creativity, and her loving spirit will forever be an inspiration to us all.

Please join her family as they celebrate her life during Calling Hours on Friday, December 12, from 4 pm until 7 pm at the MERCADANTE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 370 Plantation Street, Worcester. Her Funeral will be on Saturday, December 13, at 9 am in Mount Olive Pentecostal Church, 60 Highland Street, Worcester (PLEASE GO DIRECTLY TO CHURCH). Interment will follow in Worcester County Memorial Park.

Her Funeral Service will be “live streamed” starting at 8:50 am on Saturday, please visit www.mercadantefuneral.com to view the service.