Barbara Evelyn (Bryant) Richmond age 70, of Provincetown, formerly of the Boston area, died Monday November 25, 2013 at Seashore Point. Born in Jacksonville, FL on August 13, 1943, she was the daughter of the late Sterling and Rosa Lee (Jones) Bryant. Mrs. Richmond had lived in Boston most of her adult life. She graduated from Girls High School in Boston. After high school she worked at the Department of Public Welfare in the Grove Hall office. She became a parole officer and worked at the Suffolk County Corrections Institute in Boston for 20 years, retiring in 2002. She has enjoyed living in Provincetown with her son and daughter in law since her retirement. Living on Cape Cod provided her the chance to enjoy nature and her other interests. She especially loved butterflies and spending time at the beach. She also loved African art.
Throughout her adult life she has been active in the struggle for equality and civil rights. In 1963 she participated in the March on Washington and was present at the Lincoln Memorial for Dr. Martin Luther King’s famous “I have a Dream” speech advocating for racial harmony. Five years later, in 1968, she participated in the The Poor People's Campaign, an effort to gain economic justice for poor people in the United States. It was organized by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and carried out in the wake of King’s assassination. The Campaign demanded economic and human rights for poor Blacks, Chicanos, Native Americans, and White Americans. After presenting an organized set of demands to Congress and executive agencies, participants set up a 3000-person tent city on the Washington Mall, where they stayed for six weeks.
She is survived by her 3 sons, James T. Richmond and his wife Pauline of Provincetown, Kenneth C. Richmond of Hyde Park and Kareem A. Neal Richmond of Boston, her 5 grandchildren Damik, Mia, James, Dominick and Donte, 1 great grandson Donnell. She is also survived by her siblings, Garry Barrett of Quincy, Tyrone Barrett of Dorchester, Pat Williams and Domenique Dent of Miami and Tonya of North Carolina. She is also the former wife of James C. Richmond of Queens, NY.
A Memorial Service will take place on Saturday November 30, 2013 at 3:00pm in the Provincetown United Methodist Church 20 Shankpainter Rd. Provincetown. A Funeral Service will be held in Mount Calvary Baptist Church 541 Massachusetts Avenue Boston, MA 02118 on Saturday December 7th at 11 AM.
If desired, memorial contributions in her honor may be made to Mt. Calvary Baptist Church 541 Mass. Ave. Boston, MA 02118 or to Beacon Hospice 68 Center St. Unit 19, Hyannis, MA 02601