Obituary of John Walter Richardson

John Walter Richardson was born in Washington, DC, on August 7, 1973.  He was born to two loving parents, the late George Lee Richardson and Frances Elizabeth Richardson.  On Wednesday, July 20, 2022, he peacefully departed his earthly life at his home in Cheltenham, Maryland.

John Walter Richardson met the love of his life Waynett Rhashida Wilson in 1999, and together was blessed to have a son, Christopher Wayne Wilson, born on June 28, 2000.  They later were joined in holy matrimony on October 5, 2012.

John attended Maryland public schools.  He graduated from Fairmont Heights High School in 1991 and later from TESST College of Technology at the campus in Hyattsville.  John began his career at Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) on July 19, 2000, and served 22 years. During his tenure at WMATA, he served as an ATC Technician in the Automatic Train Control (ATC) unit for 20 years and moved to the Rail Operations Control Center (ROCC) unit in February 2019, and served as a Maintenance Controller, where he continued to serve until his passing.  John was a tremendous asset to the control center and was considered the guru for any questions or issues that staff had about ATC.  In 2020, he received an award for “Going Above and Beyond,” recognizing his ability to excel in his role and serve as a model to others.  John was deemed to be dedicated and mild-mannered and was well respected.  He loved his job at WMATA and often shared fond memories of times spent with his many coworkers and friends.

John was a dedicated husband, father, son, brother, and uncle to his family.  He was happiest when spending time with his family and friends at social gatherings.  His wife and son were his pride and joy.

John’s attributes were kind-heartedness, dependability, strength, humbleness, trustworthiness, eternal love, and he loved to entertain.  He had mastered how to make the best of any situation, good or bad.  If John was amongst any gathering, you were sure to be enlightened by a great conversation and countless moments filled with joy, love, and much laughter.

He leaves to mourn his wife, Waynett Rhashida Wilson Richardson, son, Christopher Wayne Wilson, and six siblings: George Lee Richardson, III (spouse Michelle) of Landover, Maryland; Vanetta Wells Buckner (spouse Eastmond) of Waldorf, Maryland; Pauline Richardson Quartey (spouse Raymond) of Fort Washington, Maryland; Lisa Richardson, Fort Washington, Maryland; Paul Markell Richardson, of Fort Washington, Maryland; Kiara Marie Richardson of Fort Washington, Maryland; a dear cousin Lamont Leon Henry (spouse Jacqueline) of Riverdale, Maryland; and eleven nieces, and nephews: Gwendolyn Richardson, George Ransom, Aleeya Richardson, Anthony Wells, III, Rayonna Foster, Raymond Quartey, Andrew Wells, James Quartey, Jordan Anderson, Peyton Ricardson, Elise Magruder and Zyon Magruder; a grandmother: Eva West; three aunts: Tina Price, Mable Ferguson and Johnnie West; an uncle: Donald Henry; a mother-in-law: Hazel Wilson; a sister-in-law: Raquel Magruder and his best friend and the godfather of his son, Christopher Johnson, and a host of other relatives and friends.