Horace Michael Richmond ,1953 – 2023

Mr. Horace Michael Richmond, 70, of Vicksburg, MS, passed away Wednesday, July 26, 2023, in Memphis, TN, following a tragic fall and injury the week prior. He was born in Carthage, MS, on February 12, 1953, to the late Horace Mills and Ina Pearl Richmond.

Horace Michael, better known to most as “Big Mike,” lived a life of service and generosity. He was an only child, and as a devoted son, he stayed close to his mother and father throughout their lives. After retiring, Mike passionately assumed a crucial role in the Meals on Wheels ministry that his mother and father worked hard to establish at Porter’s Chapel Methodist Church.

Mike graduated from Warren Central High School, attended Mississippi State University, and was a lifelong Bulldog fan, but would cheer “SEC, SEC!” when the situation called for it!

Returning to Vicksburg, Mike met and married his sweetheart, Margaret, and settled near both of their parents, where they lived, loved, and served for years. Mike was a devoted husband and cherished his wife Margaret for their 46 marriage. He was an avid hunter and wildlife enthusiast. As a Hunter Education Instructor for Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas, he sought to cultivate a love of the outdoors and wildlife and a healthy respect for firearm safety in the countless students he taught. He was a steward of the land and the wildlife in it.

He worked as an auto parts salesman for his entire career and was the guy to call when you needed an obscure part for your vehicle. He was easy to talk to, and his children swore he knew everyone. He was always eager to tell a story or hear your story and looked for opportunities to cut up and have a good laugh. He was also stern and stubborn and would not hesitate to give you some tough words of wisdom if he thought it would help you in the long run. Mike was humble and conservative and strongly believed in serving others; he would buy whatever someone was trying to sell to make ends meet, whether he had a use for the item or not! He must have donated a dozen gallons of blood over his lifetime, and his family honored his wishes to be an organ, eye, and tissue donor.

His pride and joy were his children and grandchildren. He poured every bit of his being into his kids and their passions. He coached their baseball and softball teams throughout the years. He spent years fiercely serving as a Band Booster parent, joyfully slinging nachos and hot dogs to half of Vicksburg in the Gators swamp stadium, although he was a Viking! His children took the

brunt of his ‘encouragement’ because that’s the way he pushed them all to their best. Mike showed up in every facet of their lives – sports, academic awards, band events, church & school functions, birthdays, and so much more. He was the epitome of a good father – supportive, protective, dependable, tenacious – and somehow, he managed to be everywhere they were, even if it meant being in two places at the same time, somehow, he did. Whether you were his child or not, if Mike was in your corner, you got him for life, and that was a true gift.

Mike lived to serve others in many ways and used the talents the Lord gave him exceptionally. Whether you knew him as a colleague, mentor, confidant, boss, friend, coach, or buddy, you all got the best of Mike. If you had him in any form – consider yourself lucky to have known him. He would hate the thought of us all crying over him – he would often joke about how he wanted his funeral to be an invitation-only party, except the joke was he’d invite everyone! So pick your favorite song, photo, memory, etc., that you have with him, and celebrate with that. The world lost an incredible person who will be missed by many.

He was preceded in death by his parents Horace Mills Richmond and Ina Peal Richmond.

He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Margaret Smith Richmond; his daughters Nicki Richmond Groce (Ken) and Krissy Richmond Hoover (Ryan); his son Jason Richmond; and his grandchildren Katelyn “BK” Hoover, Clayton “CD” Richmond, and River “RG” Groce.

The family will receive friends and loved ones for a memorial service at Porter’s Chapel Methodist Church, 200 Porter’s Chapel Road, Vicksburg, MS 39180 at 3:00 pm on Sunday July 30, 2023.

In lieu of flowers, consider donating to the Porter’s Chapel Meals on Wheels Ministry that Mike passionately served.