C. Kennard Richardson
Chester Kennard “Ken” Richardson Jr., age 77, of Boones Mill, Virginia passed away on Monday, June 16, 2025.
He is the son of the late Chester Kennard Richardson Sr. and Mildred Overbey Richardson.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Robert Wayne Richardson.
Ken is survived by his wife, Deborah Cassady Richardson. Along with his wife, he is survived by his children; Christopher Richardson (Martha), Taylor Richardson (Michele), and Abbie Ceneviva (Greg). Ken is also survived by his grandchildren, David Richardson, Eli Richardson, Abie Richardson, John Richardson, Kendall Ceneviva, Felicity Ceneviva, and Asher Ceneviva, as well as his mother-in-law, Ruth Cassady, and nieces Jenna Pryor, Joslyn Richardson D'Mello.
Ken grew up in Chesapeake, Virginia and studied music at Frederick College before completing a Bachelor of Music Education degree at Shenandoah Conservatory of Music in 1969. From 1969 until 1979, Ken was the band director at Bassett High School. He also taught music and directed the band at Mary Hunter Elementary School. He was the Minister of Music and Youth at Pocahontas Bassett Baptist Church from 1979 to 1983, during which time he completed a Master of Music Education degree at Virginia Commonwealth University (1981) and began work toward a Master of Religious Education degree at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina. In the fall of 1983, he was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry at Pocahontas Bassett Baptist Church and commissioned to serve as a missionary to Brazil. He taught music and directed ensembles throughout the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil from 1984 until 1994 while also completing the Master of Religious Education degree in 1989 and doctoral coursework at Virginia Tech in the early nineties. From 1995 until his retirement, he was the Minister of Music and Senior Adults at Franklin Heights Baptist Church in Rocky Mount, Virginia. After retiring, Ken directed a contemporary swing band in Roanoke (The Let’s Dance Band) and participated in music ministry at Thrasher Memorial United Methodist Church in Vinton, Virginia.
Throughout his life, Ken was devoted to the idea that music is for everyone. A 1975 profile from The Henry County Journal (2/20) noted that, “to Ken Richardson, band director at Bassett High School, music is a part of life – something everyone, not just a few, should enjoy.” His primary instrument was the saxophone, but he learned to play and teach a wide range of instruments and, as a church musician, directed choral ensembles for over three decades. He encouraged and invited everyone he knew to make music a part of their lives and was especially proud of having passed this love of music along to his children and grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Bassett High School Band in Ken’s memory, to support students who would not otherwise be able to participate. Checks payable to the Bassett High School Band may be mailed to the attention of Trey Harris at Bassett High School, 85 Riverside Dr., Bassett, VA, 24055.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 2nd, in the chapel of Thrasher Memorial United Methodist Church in Vinton, Virginia.
