Lucy Richardson Janoush, 60, of Cleveland passed away Sunday, September 17, 2017, at her home.
Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, September 20, 2017, at First Presbyterian Church in Cleveland followed by a Celebration of Life at 1 p.m. Officiating will be Rev. Michael D. McLaughlin, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Cleveland.
A private burial will be under the direction of Ray Funeral Home in Cleveland.
Lucy was born July 20, 1957, to Alyce and C.J. “Rich” Richardson Jr. of Cleveland. She graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1978 from Delta State University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and from Mississippi State University in 1979 with a Masters Degree in Public Policy and Administration. She was presented with an honorary doctorate degree from Delta State University in Arts and Letters in May 2017.
After she obtained her Master’s, she went to Washington, D.C. to work for Congressmen Jamie Whitten and David Bowen. Upon leaving D.C., she worked at South Delta Planning and Development District of Greenville. From 1986 to 1991; later, she was the executive vice president of the Cleveland-Bolivar County Chamber of Commerce and Industrial Development Foundation of Cleveland.
She worked as the Human Resources Manager for Brandywine Foods, Inc. of Cleveland; Human Resources Consultant for JANTRAN, Inc. of Rosedale; and Human Resources Manager for Baxter Healthcare Corporation of Cleveland.
Lucy was heavily involved and held positions of leadership in many charitable organizations, including the Junior Auxiliary of Cleveland, Bolivar Medical Center Board of Directors, Bolivar County Literacy Council, United Way of Cleveland-Bolivar County, Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi Board of Directors, Friends of the Bolivar County Library System, Delta State University Alumni Association, Dockery Farms Foundation Board of Directors, Crosstie Arts Council, Hayes Cooper Booster Club, Wildcat Booster Club and CHS PTSA, Cleveland Community Theater and Cleveland Park Commission.
Following her employment with the Cleveland-Bolivar County Chamber of Commerce, Lucy was a tireless volunteer. She served on the board of directors; was vice president of Marketing; vice president of Organization and Public Affairs, President; chairman of the Industrial Development Foundation; chairman of the Great River Bridge Committee; co-chairman of the Dixie Boys World Series; and chairman of the 1986 Cleveland Centennial and Bolivar County Sesquicentennial.
In addition, she was involved on the chamber committees of Leadership Bolivar County, Southern Home Ideas Expo, Octoberfest, Tourism, Personnel Managers Organization, School Bond Issue Task Force, Competitive Community, and Junior Achievement.
Lucy was the driving force behind the building of the GRAMMY Museum® Mississippi in Cleveland and has been the president of the board of directors since 2011.
She was an active member of First Presbyterian Church in Cleveland and was currently serving as a member of the Session of Elders, Administration Committee, and as a Sunday school teacher.
Lucy received many honors for her volunteerism, including the Governor’s Arts Award Art Patron by the Mississippi Arts Commission in 2017, 2015 Delta State University Outstanding Alumnae of the Year, female Volunteer of the Year in 2015 by the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi, and the 2010 Junior Auxiliary Charity Ball queen.
For her involvement with the Chamber of Commerce, she received the President’s Award in 2012 and 1996; and she received the S.E. Kossman Award for outstanding volunteer service in 1997.
Lucy married Paul Janoush on October 8, 1983.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Alyce West Richardson and C.J. “Rich” Richardson and her sister Parker Alyce Richardson.
She is survived by her husband Paul; two children Will (Andrea) Janoush of Madison and Mary Parker Janoush of Nashville, TN; two grandchildren Bradford Janoush and Mary Alyce Janoush of Madison; brother C.J. “Jimbo” (Yamina) Richardson III of Brandon; and sister Lee (Randall) McKinley of St. Simon’s Island, GA.
Pallbearers will be Butch Bassie, Gary Gainspoletti, Allan Hammons, Robert Heslep, Randy Hutchison, Billy Nowell, Judson Thigpen, Jim Tims, and Jimmy Yeager.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the GRAMMY Museum® Mississippi, Boys Scouts of America, First Presbyterian Church of Cleveland or the Delta Music Institute at Delta State University.