Juanita Bushong Richardson

Juanita Bushong Richardson, also known as Laveda J. Richardson, was known to her friends and family as Mema. On November 20th, at the age of 101, she was taken to meet her Savior and Lord Jesus.

Juanita was born January 2nd, 1924, in Kibler, Arkansas. She met her husband, Paul Scott Richardson, in Mountainburg, Arkansas. They were married June 1st, 1942. In their 74 years of marriage, they were blessed with three daughters – Brenda Teten, Barbara Sims and Becky Bing.

She was a charter member of First Baptist Church in Mountainburg and was later a member of First Baptist Church in Van Buren. She received her Bachelors of Science in Education at the University of Arkansas and was a teacher and librarian at Mountainburg Schools for 27 years.

Every year for each holiday, Mema brought the family together by hosting generously and working relentlessly for them at “Mema’s and Pepa’s house”.

Juanita was and is a blessing beyond words to every life she touched.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Paul Scott Richardson; her precious daughter, Barbara Sims; grandson, James Bing; parents, James and Julia Bushong; three sisters, Hazel Neal, Grace Nelson, Mildred Woods, and a baby brother.

She is survived by her daughters, Brenda Teten and Becky Bing (husband Mark Bing); sister, Julia Coleman; special niece Paula Booth; four grandsons, Scott Cain (wife Wendy), John Cain (wife Terri), Chris Sims (wife Eve), and Paul Sims (wife Jessica); 12 great grandchildren, Lindsay, Zach, Timothy, Brianna, Katelyn, Tristan, Alli, Trevor, Madi, Emma, Jacob and Brooklyn; 3 great great grandchildren, Penelope, Eleanor and upcoming arrival William.

Pallbearers will be grandsons, and honorary pallbearers will be her great-grandsons.

Funeral service will be at 10:00 A.M. Wednesday, November 26, 2025 at Ocker Memorial Chapel in Van Buren. The family will have visitation for family and friends one hour prior (9:00 A.M.) to service.