Perrine Richardson

Homegoing Celebration service will be held Wednesday June 17, 2020 at 10:00am at Southern Baptist Church, 3556 Reading Road., Cincinnati. Visitation will be Tuesday, June 16, 2020 from 6:00pm-8:00pm at the church. Interment is in Vine Street Hill Cemetery following services. Memorial contributions may be made to Helen Lee Gentry Scholarship Fund, 218 Wildwood Ct., Loveland OH 45140 or online at PayPal https://www.paypal.me/gentryscholarship?locale.x=en_US. Arrangements by Thompson, Hall and Jordan Funeral Home. Please view and sign her registry at www.thompsonhalljordan.com

Perrine Richardson was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on February 21, 1918, the third child of the late Margaret Figs Thompson and Alfred Thompson. She earned her wings on June 8, 2020 at the ripe young age of 102. Perrine, who was fondly known to everyone as “Perky” was the Matriarch of our family for many years. She has seen all manner of social, political and economic upheavals. She endured. She lost her daughter in 1992. She endured. She had more than one life-threatening situation, to the point that the doctors gave up. But God did not! She endured. And this lady at 90 years of age, rode to Washington, DC to witness the inauguration of the first Black President of the United States in 2009. Due to the unprecedented environment of COVID-19, her last months at St. Margaret Hall, she embraced technology by actively participating in weekly Family Zoom Meetings!

Perky was educated in the Lincoln Heights Public Schools and worked as a domestic as a young woman. Later, she moved to Indianapolis and worked many faithful years as a drapery seamstress at Arrow Drapery Company. After her return to Cincinnati, she worked alongside her beloved son Virgil and his family, providing the best food in The Valley at the Peppermint Lounge, and shared a home with her beloved daughter Helen until her passing. Perky could build or fix anything! She was the smartest person we know. She transformed her 2-car garage into a party room, including a full built in bar, and went on to host many family events and parties in it at her Indianapolis home. She could take any old piece of furniture and reupholster it into a beautiful treasure to display in your home. She was crafty and creative. Perky loved to cook and insisted that everyone who visited her get something to eat, whether they were hungry or not. It was imperative! And we cannot overlook her sense of humor. She would “cap” on you and tease you, and then give you a big hug so you would feel good about it.

Perky confessed her belief in Christ and was a faithful member of Southern Baptist Church for many years until her health and age prevailed. Many Southern members remember her and Helen in their “regular” seats, looking lovely every Sunday, in Sunday School Class, smiling and sharing her love with everyone. She didn’t reserve her smile and lovely spirit only to church. Perky never met a stranger. She welcomed everyone: into her home, into her life, and always looking for a way to help and serve others. She really had a heart of service and love!

Perky is predeceased by her beloved daughter, the late Helen Gentry; beloved brother Alfred Thompson, beloved sisters Cleo Brewster, Rotha Thompson, Mary Catherine Mincy, May Elizabeth Elkcorn, Eliza Elkcorn, Zelma Davis, Dorothy Long, Helen Workman, Winifred McNeil and beloved Daughter-in-Law Treva Lee Thompson.

She leaves to mourn her, her beloved son, Virgil Thompson and her only surviving sister, Martha Spell. Seven grandchildren, Marvel Gentry Harmon (Arthur), Victoria Gentry Crook (James), Virgil K. Thompson, Jennifer J. Gentry (Yvette), Frank Bernard Thompson (Lisa), Marvin E. Gentry II (Monica), Kellie Thompson Gray (Gary); ten Great-grandchildren, James E. Crook III, Jonathan M. Thompson (Sadalia), Epiphany Davis, Malaika McCoy, Gary Gray, Jr., Tabari Crook, Kameron Gray, Marvin E. Gentry III, Monique Gentry, Maleah Gentry; three Great-great-grandchildren Jayla Crook, Audrey Thompson, Kalani Crook; and a host of relatives and friends will all miss Perky’s love and generous spirit.

But most importantly, she was a Phenomenal Woman and beloved by our family and so many more! Her key to longevity, “I just try to love everybody.” What a lesson in life! We all love you real good, Perky!

Memorial contributions may be made to Helen Lee Gentry Scholarship Fund, 218 Wildwood Ct., Loveland OH 45140 or online at PayPal. https://www.paypal.me/gentryscholarship?locale.x=en_US