William Atlas Richards

William Atlas Richards, a resident of Dothan, passed away Friday, September 14, 2012. He was 95.

Graveside services will be held 11:30 a.m. Monday, September 17, 2012 at Memory Hill Cemetery with Rev. Coley Holloway officiating and Byrd Funeral Home on West Main Street directing. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. prior to service time.

Mr. Richards was born October 16, 1916 in Dale County to the late William Ezra and Effie Carlisle Richards and lived most of his life in the Sylvan Grove Community before moving to Dothan in 1996. He was a veteran of World War II having served in the U.S. Army. Mr. Richards was a retired automobile mechanic. He enjoyed fishing and working in his yard but his greatest love was spending time with his family. He was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by an infant son, Jerry Richards, sisters, Jimmie Lou Galloway and Glady Beck Baker, and a brother, Lewie Garrett "Jack" Richards.

Survivors include his wife of 70 years, Frances Willis Richards of Dothan, a daughter, Annette Chandler (Jimmy) of Dothan; grandsons, James Chandler (Carol) of Dothan and Todd Chandler of Dothan; great-grandchildren, Kristen Chandler and Caleb Chandler, both of Dothan; sisters, Nadine Jenkins of Bandera, TX, Eleanor Vanderham of Asheville, NC and Annie Ruth Benton (Norman) of Woodbury, TN; a brother, Kenneth Dewitt Richards (Caroline) of Tallahassee, FL; numerous nieces and nephews also survive.