Opal Richards

Sister Opal Richards was born July 1, 1914 near Cisco, Texas to W. E. Crawford and the former Stella Turknett. She was a graduate of Cisco Schools and over her life she became a veteran first in law enforcement and later in the community newspaper business in West Texas.
In 1938 she married Curtis R. Sanders, and he preceded her in death.
In 1945 she was one of the first women in Texas to become certified in law enforcement and she joined the Big Spring Police Department, serving as dispatcher. In 1947, she was hired by the Abilene Police Department as dispatcher, serving there until 1954 when she was recruited by the Nueces County Sheriff's Office in Corpus Christi to serve as dispatcher, juvenile officer and female prisoner officer; and she became a certified fingerprint expert and was a criminal ID officer.
She was then named by District Judge J. D. Todd as judge's legal aide and court bailiff for the 105th District Court of Nueces County. She later was named by the judge as county probation officer, continuing to serve the 105 District Court as bailiff until 1969.
In December of 1969 she was married in Corpus Christi to Afton E. Richards, of Ralls, Texas by her pastor and their close friend, Elder Billy J. Walden. Following her marriage to Mr. Richards and move to West Texas, she joined him in the management and operations of the weekly newspapers in the communities of Ralls, Lorenzo, Aspermont and Jayton until his death in 1984, at which time he was also serving as pastor of the Lubbock Primitive Baptist Church.
She was a long-time member and devoted attendee of the Primitive Baptist Church. Until her recent illnesses, she had continued to serve, since 1970, as business manager and managing editor of The Banner of Love, a 75-year old monthly publication in the interests of the Primitive Baptist Church.
Survivors include four sons, Ronald Sanders and wife Laura of Cypress, Charles Richards and wife Barbara of Paris, Texas, Don Richards and wife Ann of Lubbock, and Larry Richards of Dallas; and a daughter, Mary Beth Sudduth and husband Carr Racop of Ft. Smith, Ark.; two sisters, Anna Lee Taylor and her husband Dean of Lubbock, and Margie Clark of Abilene; 10 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.

Editor note: For reasons of limited space; it is our policy not to routinely run obituaries in Zion’s Lamp. But because of the impact of her life and service, in the Primitive Baptist Church through the publication of The Banner of Love; and her dedication to the cause of truth, we feel it good and fitting, to pay our humblest respects to this wonderful Sister. We thank God for her life and the influence she has been in the lives of each of us.

Middletown, N.Y., June 15, 1856.
“Immortal principles forbid The sons of God to sin.”