Helen Hazen Richards

Helen Hazen Richards was born to Harley Shuford Hazen and Mary Elizabeth Windham Hazen on December 29th, 1927. Harley and Mary lived in Center Hill, Fla., a small farming town between Bushnell and Okahumpka. There were no medical facilities in Center Hill, so they went to Tampa, Fla., which is where Helen Jane's aunt lived, who she was named after, for the birth. Helen grew up in Center Hill with her younger sister Francis Marion Binns.

Helen Jane, as she was called, attended Bushnell High School where she was the Valedictorian. After graduation she attended Emory University's four-year nursing program, which was the first graduating class of nurses, in 1949. Co-incidentally her soon-to-be husband, H. Morgan Richards, DDS (dec. March 10th, 2004) had just returned from the war, finished his undergraduate (Emory, 48) and started Emory Dental School, (D52). Helen and Morgan met and were married on September 14, 1947.

Helen's first home was a trailer on campus called "Mudville". After Morgan's graduation in 1952 Helen and Morgan moved to Lakeland only 1 hr. south of Helen Jane's hometown of Center Hill. Helen took care of her two-year-old, Harley, while Morgan started his dental practice. Helen later had two other children: Charles P. Richards, and Laura Richards Garland. Later Helen worked as a scrub nurse for Spence Garrett, MD, an ophthalmologist. While doing all of this she became a private pilot in 1960, through Roberts Flying Service. This was so unusual that there was an article in the Ledger about her accomplishment.

In 1969 she began to teach Healthcare Science at Southwest Junior High School. Later when she retired from teaching, she worked with Morgan until his retirement in 1986. In retirement Helen Jane and Morgan lived in Highlands, North Carolina for six months of the year. She loved her chocolate labs, Nellie and Bubba and of course her wine. There she volunteered at Mountain Findings.

After Morgan's death, Helen continued to spend the summer in Highlands until her health deteriorated. She lived the rest of her years in Lakeland and loved to play bridge with her friends. We are grateful for all the good care she received which enabled her to stay in her home until her death. The ladies at Home Instead: Alma, Christine, Gale, Noreen and Subrina and especially to Lisa, Katie and Pam, her private caregivers.

She is survived by her sister Francis Marion Binns, her children Harley, Charles, Laura and grandchildren; Harley II, Fielding, Morgan, James, Katie and Kelly.

Donations may be made to the SPCA or a charity of your choice.