Roland Simmons Richardson
January 22, 1938 — November 19, 2015
Roland Simmons Richardson, 77, passed away, at his Mandarin home, Thursday, November
19, 2015, after a long fight with kidney disease and prostate cancer. He was born in 1938, in
Nashville, Tennessee. Roland was preceded in death by a son, Clayton Ashley, age 1 month,
(1963), as well as 2 older sisters, Geraldine and Dorothy. Roland met Annijane, his wife of 60
years, at Central Baptist Church when they were 12 years old. He attended Landon High School, the University of Seoul, Korea, and Jacksonville University. After serving in the U.S. Air Force Medical Corp, including a tour of duty in Korea, Roland began a long, successful entrepreneurial career. From 1965 –1970, Roland set an unprecedented sales record in the Commercial Sales Department of Sears, which still stands. Roland and Annijane, along with their 2 sons & daughters-in-law, built Florida Contract Interiors into Richcraft Carpets, providing interior products and flooring coverings to building contractors. In 1980, Roland and his business partner, James L. Clemons, started Biskits, a fast-food concept, serving biscuit sandwiches and fried chicken, which rapidly grew throughout Florida. Along the way, from 1972 – 1983, friends and family enjoyed Sit n’ Spit, a recreational farm, sharing good food, fun and music. Roland was an avid motorcyclist, who most enjoyed riding with his sons in the Great Smoky Mountains and the foothills of Tucson, AZ. He was a founding member of the Jacksonville Chapter of the International Wine & Food Society and honored to be awarded the IWFS Americas, Inc., Silver Medal for his friendship, leadership & full participation through the years. Upon retirement, extensive travel began on a Bluebird Wanderlodge RV – the Blunderbus, providing Roland and Annijane with years of happiness and adventures. Roland is survived by wife, Annijane, 2 sons & their wives, Mark & Susan and Charles & Carole; 2 grandchildren & their spouses, Ryan & Ashlee and Courtney & Aaron, 2 great-granddaughters, Dylan and soon to be born, Claire; 3 great-grandsons, Carson, Reece, and Anderson. Roland felt God’s purpose for his life was motivating others to fulfill their potential and achieve their dreams. He will be sorely missed by all that knew & loved him.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Salvation Army or The Wounded Warriors Project.
A private celebration of life for Mr.Richardson will be held in the near future, for all family and friends requesting this information please contact Mrs.Annijane Richardson, per her request.
19, 2015, after a long fight with kidney disease and prostate cancer. He was born in 1938, in
Nashville, Tennessee. Roland was preceded in death by a son, Clayton Ashley, age 1 month,
(1963), as well as 2 older sisters, Geraldine and Dorothy. Roland met Annijane, his wife of 60
years, at Central Baptist Church when they were 12 years old. He attended Landon High School, the University of Seoul, Korea, and Jacksonville University. After serving in the U.S. Air Force Medical Corp, including a tour of duty in Korea, Roland began a long, successful entrepreneurial career. From 1965 –1970, Roland set an unprecedented sales record in the Commercial Sales Department of Sears, which still stands. Roland and Annijane, along with their 2 sons & daughters-in-law, built Florida Contract Interiors into Richcraft Carpets, providing interior products and flooring coverings to building contractors. In 1980, Roland and his business partner, James L. Clemons, started Biskits, a fast-food concept, serving biscuit sandwiches and fried chicken, which rapidly grew throughout Florida. Along the way, from 1972 – 1983, friends and family enjoyed Sit n’ Spit, a recreational farm, sharing good food, fun and music. Roland was an avid motorcyclist, who most enjoyed riding with his sons in the Great Smoky Mountains and the foothills of Tucson, AZ. He was a founding member of the Jacksonville Chapter of the International Wine & Food Society and honored to be awarded the IWFS Americas, Inc., Silver Medal for his friendship, leadership & full participation through the years. Upon retirement, extensive travel began on a Bluebird Wanderlodge RV – the Blunderbus, providing Roland and Annijane with years of happiness and adventures. Roland is survived by wife, Annijane, 2 sons & their wives, Mark & Susan and Charles & Carole; 2 grandchildren & their spouses, Ryan & Ashlee and Courtney & Aaron, 2 great-granddaughters, Dylan and soon to be born, Claire; 3 great-grandsons, Carson, Reece, and Anderson. Roland felt God’s purpose for his life was motivating others to fulfill their potential and achieve their dreams. He will be sorely missed by all that knew & loved him.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Salvation Army or The Wounded Warriors Project.
A private celebration of life for Mr.Richardson will be held in the near future, for all family and friends requesting this information please contact Mrs.Annijane Richardson, per her request.
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