Obituary of Lee R. Richards

RICHARDS, Lee A. "Man of God, Man of People" Age 50 of Elmira, NY passed away Friday, May 16, 2014 at the Arnot Ogden Medical Center after a brief illness. At the age of 14, God called Elder Richards, or as his friends know him, Bro. Lee, to the Gospel Ministry. After discouragement from his peers and even his pastor at the time with regards to answering his call, he began to live a "double life". At the age of 20, he finally preached his first sermon. Unfortunately, by that time, several habits had set in. God has shown remarkable signs of deliverance, but the truth of the matter was that Elder Richards lived a "double life" for the next 15 years, preaching, teaching and singing the Gospel while living a whole other life at night. A life of drug abuse and a host of other street-life activities. Elder Richards left San Francisco, CA in 1993. In 1994 he came to Portland, OR and attended Multnomah Bible College where he studied Theology, Pastoral Ministry and Music. After leaving college, he began to embark upon a journey of practical hands-on ministry that included rescue mission work, drug rehabilitation centers and various posts as ministry of music at churches throughout the Portland/Vancouver metropolitan area. In 1999, Elder Richards was invited to church service in Portland, OR. As he sat on the pulpit, he heard the Gospel preached like never before! After the sermon, Min. Richards left the pulpit and received Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. Elder Richards is a Gospel preacher, but his heart lies in being a teacher and a pastor, as well as a professional musician. He plays the keyboards, bass guitar, trombone and he is a vocalist. He has been a musician for 38 years, and is a worship leader and a psalmist. Elder Richards has studied music with such San Francisco Bay area icons as Daryl Coley, Bill Bell, Charles Hudspeth and also has extensive choral directing experience. Elder Richards has studied Theology at Fellowship Bible Institute in San Francisco, CA and a Multnomah Bible College of Portland, OR. He has also studied Pastoral Ministry and Music at numerous institutions, conferences and workshops throughout the West Coast for the past 25 years. However, the greatest achievement is the Lord's, not his. When he was on his way to hell without even knowing, God saved his soul on the second Sunday in June of 1999 after 15 years in the ministry. Walking by faith, the Lord told Bro. Lee to leave Portland and go to Salem, OR where he was ordained and served as an Elder for five years at Seed of Faith Ministries, Where Wade E. Harris is the pastor. He was predeceased by his father Herbert L. Richards and mother Ann Shepard. He is survived by his wife of 7 years, Paula Heyward Richards; sisters Denise and Seleste of CA; brother Charles Edward of CA; step brothers and step sisters Ronnie E. (Johnetta) Dunn of Marietta, GA, Pamela M. (Joe deceased) Byrd of Woodlawn, CA, Sheila A. (Wayne) Hoover of San Leandro, CA, Ricky B. (Julie) Dunn of Fresno, CA, Marcus (QuyNitta) McDade of Walnut Creek, CA; step mother Joyce L. Dunn; cousin Betty Nelson. Lee was an ordained Elder and ministered in California, Oregon and New York. He moved to New York in 2010 and was known for his music ministry.