Richard Winifred Tait

APRIL 19, 1945 – AUGUST 24, 2020

by Sara Huff, The Packer’s Bend Times

Mr. Richard W. Tait, a patriarch, a pillar of his community, a loving husband, father, brother and uncle, was born on April 19, 1945, in Selma, Ala., at Good Samaritan Hospital, to the late Brooksie Tait Sr. and Esteen Powell Tait. He joined Mt. Sinai A.M.E. Church at an early age and remained a faithful member until he transitioned this life to be with the Lord on Aug. 24, 2020.

He attended primary school in the Monroe County school system. His mother was one of his teachers, and his father was his school bus driver. He later attended Mobile County Training School, where he graduated in 1963. He enlisted in the United States Navy in 1964 and served his country for four years. He then returned to Packer’s Bend, Ala., where he remained a lifelong resident.

Richard and his devoted wife of 38 years, Marvia Coleman Tait, completely renovated his parents’ plantation-style home and land acreage into a beautiful oasis, which included a fishing pond, antique farm equipment, grape vines and fruit trees. He was employed at Weyerhaeuser in Pine Hill, Ala., for 39 years until his retirement as a supervisor in 2007.

After his retirement, he reignited his church involvement and became a very active member, serving as a trustee, building committee member and usher. He also held his community very dear to his heart, much like his parents. He was a founding member of the Packers Bend Volunteer Fire Department.

He was an active member of the PACERS board, under the auspices of Dr. Jack Shelton, the executive director and founder of the cooperative.

Richard’s efforts in the PACERS programs yielded great benefits to the students and faculty of Monroe Intermediate School.

At the time of his death, Richard was working to re-establish a local newspaper for the Packers Bend community. He was a true outdoorsman and jack of all trades, always willing to help wherever needed.

In addition to his loving wife, Richard is survived by his daughters, Santita (Sylvester) Dioh of Acworth, Ga., Sharon Kidd Darrington of Mobile, Ala., Demetris Kennedy of Birmingham, Ala., and Wendy Kennedy of Lower Peachtree, Ala.; five grandchildren, Paige (Joshua) Taylor, Tony Darrington Jr., Aaron Darrington, Chloe Kennedy and Slayton Dioh; one great-grandchild, Kaysen Taylor; brother, Brooksie (Louise) Tait Jr., of Pine Hill, Ala.; and a host of additional relatives and friends. Richard was preceded in death by his sister, Dr. Shirley Tait King.

Mr. Richard Tait thoughtfully gave of his time to MIS and to the PACERS programs there. As manager of the garden, greenhouse and aquaculture projects, he displayed his constant care for education, young people and the school. Mr. Tait was a valued member of the PACERS Board of Directors, a founder of The Packer’s Bend Times and a contributor to the PACERS book about its Monroe County initiatives, Are They Up to Anything Good? Through this extensive work, I was privileged to know and fully respect him. Richard Tait has left a fine legacy for Packers Bend and inspired others to continue that legacy.