Connie Carlisle Richards

Connie Carlisle Richards, 77 of Valdosta, died on Sunday, October 26, 2025, at South Georgia Medical Center after a brief illness. Born in Columbus on August 20, 1948, to the late James Neal Carlisle & Marie Matthews Carlisle, she grew up in Tifton. There she graduated from Tift County High in the mid 1960’s. After high school, Connie met Dave Richards as he was attending ABAC in Tifton in the late 1960’s. She followed him to the University of Georgia where they both got their degrees. While they were there they dated and then were married in Tifton on July 30, 1972. After graduation, she received her teaching certificate and then taught school first in the Athens area, then in Valdosta in the mid 1970’s. She soon moved over to work at the Mental Health Center here and worked there until she stayed home to raise her two boys. Then as the boys got older, she started helping her husband, Dr. Richards, at Animal Health Center. She continued to work as the office manager at Animal Health Center until her retirement in 2012.

For over 20 years, Connie and Dave actively discipled other believers in following Jesus. Including biblical marriage guidance at times. They also taught the Christian Forum Sunday School Class for many years at her church, First Methodist Church. She was a devoted wife and mother, but she especially loved being a grandmother and treasured the times with grandchildren. Traveling the world with family was another thing she really enjoyed doing over the years.

Survivors include her husband of 53 years, Dave Richards of Valdosta; two sons and a daughter in law, Tom & Anna Richards of Fayetteville and Taylor Richards of Valdosta; four grandchildren, Finnley Richards, Lucy Richards, Griffin Richards and Jackson Richards. Also surviving are three sisters, Kay Landreth of Anderson, SC, Patsy Carlisle of Tifton, Jan Myrick of Townville, SC and a brother Jim Carlisle of Ocilla; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The funeral service for Connie will be held at 11 am on Friday, October 31, 2025, in the chapel of Carson McLane Funeral Home. Dr. Anthony McPhail will officiate. A private committal will follow at the mausoleum at McLane Riverview Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends on Thursday evening from 5 until 7 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Methodist Church of Valdosta, at www.valdostafmc.org, or the American Cancer Society, at www.donate.cancer.org, or the American Heart Association, at www.heart.org. Condolences may be conveyed to the family on the obituary page of www.mclanecares.com. Carson McLane Funeral Home