Patience Taliaferro Caldwell Richeson

“My art is an expression of the way I feel about the things that mean the most to me: watercolor dawns and sunsets, the laughter and sound of my grandson’s running feet, the vulnerability and questioning wonder in a child’s face, the sassiness and crazy comfort in the steady gaze of a cat’s eye, the strength, tenderness, and vulnerability of a young mother with her baby, and most of all hope.”

Patience (Pat) Richeson, age 75, of Amherst, Va. passed away on Friday June 23, 2017 at Seven Hills Hospice House with family members by her side. She leaves behind beloved stepfather, Richard Hanson (Lynn) of Amherst; devoted sisters Ella Magruder (Mark) of Amherst and Rebecca Hanson (Reid LaClair) of Baltimore, Md.; son Thomas Richeson, Jr. (Sonia) of Montpelier, Va; daughter Elizabeth Jones (Lynn) of Glen Allen Va.; grandchildren Mathew, Dylan, and their mother Cheryl Richeson of Ashland, Va.; Chris Jones (Amy) and their son Zachary, of Newnan, Ga.; Will Jones of Glen Allen, Va.; and Sarahbeth Jones of Richmond, Va. Kind aunt to niece Mia Dammann (Christopher) of Keswick, Va.; and to nephews Conan Magruder of Farmville, Va.; Chuck Cake (Maria) and their children Charlie and Annemarie of Arlington, Va.; Marion Cake (Lisha Reynolds) and his children Samantha and Zachary of North Chesterfield, Va.; and Nathan LaClair of Baltimore, Md. Pat was preceded in death by her mother, Ella M. Hanson, and sister, Anne L. Cake of Arlington, Va.

Nora Booker, Annie Rose and Carolyn Richerson were Pat’s devoted caregivers at her home. Bonnie Kestner, Carol Milhous, Lillian Johnson, and Rena Brewer were faithful and loving friends during Pat’s life and were great comfort to her during her later extended illnesses.

Pat grew up and lived at Mountain View Farm, now the home of her family’s Rebec Vineyards. She was the director of the Clifford School of Dance for 26 years, instructing hundreds of Amherst County children in ballet, tap and creative dance, and choreographing the yearly recitals. A graduate of Sweet Briar College, Pat was an artist who created works in different art mediums and with photography, specializing in photographs of people, cats, and flowers (sunflowers, roses, and lilies were her favorites).

When Pat retired from teaching dance she began a new career as chaplain’s assistant at Sweet Briar College, where she worked for 15 years with chaplains Susan Lehman, Guy Brewer, and Adam White. The SBC students affectionately called her “Miss Pat”, and they bestowed on her the “unsung hero” award.

Her memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, August 12, 2017 at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Clifford, Va. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to St Mark’s Episcopal Church or to Sweet Briar College.

Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Madison Heights, is assisting the family.