In Loving Memory of

Elizabeth Easton Richardson

September 7, 1970 – August 16, 2026

Elizabeth Easton Richardson, 55, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, daughter, friend, and servant, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family on August 16, 2026. Elizabeth's life was measured not in years but in the lives she touched and changed, the relationships she formed and cherished, and the loving impact she made — one that will continue to serve as a source of strength and comfort for all who knew and loved her.

Elizabeth was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, on September 7, 1970, the daughter of Charles Landis Easton and Rosemary Dellinger Easton. She enjoyed a memorable childhood as the fourth of four siblings, growing up in Stanley, North Carolina. Those years were filled with summers at Camp Seafarer and Camp Golden Valley with her sister, Landis, practice and competition on the local swim team, and cherished memories made with her grandparents and family. At age eleven, her family moved to Oxford, North Carolina, there to call home until she graduated from J.F. Webb High School in 1989. From there, Elizabeth began a journey that would lead her through many unique careers, time at Lees-McRae College — where she was named Homecoming Queen — and the building of a family of friends who would remain with her for life.

Her true love was caring for others, and she was naturally drawn to a career in nursing. Graduating as an LPN from Vance-Granville Community College in 1993, Elizabeth became not only a nurse but an advocate for the profession itself — for its impact, and for how nursing could grow to serve, to heal, and to change lives through care, education, and personal investment. She practiced that advocacy for 27 years at The Masonic Home for Children at Oxford, serving as Campus Nurse and later Medical Director. While also briefly working as a houseparent for the young ladies of Bemis Cottage, "Nurse Liz" provided medical, emotional, and personal care to thousands of children who lived at the Home during her time there. Always on call, her work extended far beyond nursing care to supporting each resident's life in countless ways. Being the nurse of MHCO meant her roles were many and her contributions great — teaching, healing, advocating, and helping. Elizabeth believed her job was more than that of a nurse, more than a "modified mother" — it was to provide true care and guidance in every aspect of a child's life, especially for those who found themselves away from their homes and families. Her passion for nursing showed in every part of her life, from marching in the Nursing March on Washington in 1995, to teaching her well-known health education classes for the residents of the Home, to her dedicated service during the COVID-19 pandemic, to the relationships she maintained with many children long after they left the Home — continuing to support their lives and their health as they grew into adults and built families of their own.

In 1997, Elizabeth met Chris while working as a nurse during a visit to the local hospital. From their first meeting to their marriage in 1999, to the birth of their children, and through 29 years together, they built a life filled with blessings. They spent 17 years working side by side at the children's home, gathered with family every holiday, traveled to Jamaica, shared campfires at the farm, enjoyed random date nights, and simply did everything in life together. Through it all, they shared a love that carried them through the best and hardest of times, as husband and wife and best friends.

Elizabeth was devoted not only to her work but to her community. She served with the Oxford Junior Women's Club and was active at Oxford Baptist Church, involved in its youth groups, mission trips, fundraising efforts, and holiday celebrations. As part of "Angels for Aimee," she helped raise funds for cancer research in memory of her classmate and friend Aimee. Elizabeth's willingness to support the causes she believed in — and the causes of others — was constant, whether for friends or simply to help someone in need. She found joy in many personal pursuits, from tending her plants and working in her nursery, to stamping and card making to volunteering for the celebrations and services of others, always adding a special touch to family events, for friends, and for the causes closest to her heart. It would be hard to find a person with a more positive outlook on life. No matter the task or the obstacle, Elizabeth gave freely of her talents, her time, and her encouragement, reminding everyone around her that anything is possible.

Of all her attributes and accomplishments and known to many by her various and affectionate names – Sissy, Ittie-Beth, Liz, Izzy, and Gizzy – she treasured most her family and the circle of friends who became her extended family. The relationships she built went beyond friendship, forming bonds that could always be relied upon, no matter the time, place, or situation. Among them was the group affectionately known as "The Seven Devils," a devoted circle of women committed to one another, to their families, and to enjoying life together — and one Elizabeth was proud to call her own. Her life was defined by the relationships she formed. As fellow day-care moms and lifetime friends with TL, with Beth whose relationship begin through volunteering with Elizabeth at MHCO, but grew to be so much more, in later years with Stephanie and their shared connections, support, and friendship, and countless others, too many to name, who each had a special place in Elizabeth’s heart and life.

Izzy found beauty and joy in life's simplest moments — a nap on a long trip, indulging in a favorite candy or snack, morning check-ins with her daughter, Mary and her sister, Landis, the first snowfall of the season in North Carolina, or a quick note, devotional, or call to let someone know she was thinking of them. Her beauty was matched only by her strength. She supported her family and others through the hardest of times and faced her own with the same grace and strength. She beat breast cancer in 2021 and fought an incredible battle against her most recent diagnosis — the

very definition of tough, and beautiful in the way she faced every challenge. Her gentle strength and caring heart will be deeply missed by all who loved her and will continue to guide and support them in her memory.

Elizabeth is survived by her husband, Chris; son Robbie Richardson (Oxford, NC); daughter Mary Richardson Tynch and her husband Allen (Winterville, NC); granddaughter Allie Richardson (Port Wentworth, GA); sister Landis Ackerman and her husband Mike (Beaufort, SC); brothers Charles Easton and his wife Jodi (Guyton, GA), and Stewart Easton (Ridgeland, SC); as well as an aunt, and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her father, Charles L. Easton, and her mother, Rosemary D. Easton.

A visitation with the family will be held at the Oxford Baptist Church fellowship hall on Saturday, August 22nd, 2026 starting at 1:00pm, with a service to follow at 2:00pm at Oxford Baptist Church. Interment will be held privately with the family at a later date.

At Elizabeth's specific request, the service will be a celebration of life, and those attending are encouraged to wear bright clothing, especially her favorite colors, pink and green. As much as Elizabeth loved flowers, she loved service to others even more, and so, in lieu of flowers, she asked that charitable donations be made in her memory — or in memory of another person important to your life to one of the following charities or the charity of your choice: The North Carolina Masonic Foundation – https://mfnc.org/how-to-give/invitation-to-give/ or NCMF P.O. Box 4365 Rocky Mount, NC 27803 Oxford Baptist Church - https://my.simplegive.com/app/giving/oxfo147244 or Oxford Baptist Church PO Box 398 Oxford NC 27565 The Will’s Way Project - https://onrealm.org/OxfordUnitedMet/-/form/give/now (select Will’s Way Project) or Oxford United Methodist Church, PO Box 757, Oxford, NC 27565 (c/o Will’s Way Project)

The Maria Parham Hospital Cancer Center – call (252) 438-4143 and ask about donations to the Maria Parham Hospital Cancer Center

Elizabeth's family extends their heartfelt thanks to Dr. David Mack and the nurses and staff of the Maria Parham Cancer Center and Maria Parham Hospital, to Leigh Howard of Duke University Medical Center Palliative Care, and to Melissa and Chelsea of Gentiva Hospice, for the care and support given throughout her journey and her fight.