Rachel D. Smith
Rachel York Derr was born on July 13, 1921, on her parents’ farm outside Dallas, North Carolina. Rachel went to be with her Lord on November 10, 2022, after a brief illness, at her home in Leesburg.
She was the youngest daughter of Jacob Dailey Derr and Olive Robinson Derr. She was preceeded in death by brothers Jake and John, and sisters Martha, Mable and Elinor, and husbands Irvin W. Richardson, Elmer F. Dykeman and Glenn “Smitty” Smith, and daughter Rachel Anna (Bill) Staton.
Rachel moved to Florida in 1941, to work for the U S Army Construction Quartermaster at Camp Blanding, near Starke. There she met and later married Irvin W. Richardson, of Tavares, FL They were blessed with three daughters, Rachel Anna, Martha Dale and Derrlene, settling down in Lady Lake, after the end of WW2.
Rachel loved to sew and quilt, hunt and fish, and loved to cook and can. She also loved her dogs, cats, and riding horses. She recently rode horseback for her 101th birthday! In her earlier years, she was active in First Presbyterian Church of Leesburg and a Lifetime member of Leesburg Chapter #84 Order of the Eastern Star, serving as Worthy Matron 3 times. Due to her love of horses, she was the co-leader of the first 4H Horse Club in Florida. She loved telling stories of her life experiences and fun times, having lived in Lake County for over 80 years!
She is survived by her daughters, Martha Dale Sereno, of Leesburg, FL and Derrlene (Steve) Smith of Windthorst, Texas, Stepson Robert H. (Teda) of Leesburg, FL 5 granddaughters, 1 grandson, 4 great grandsons, 3 great granddaughters, and 2 great, great grandsons, several nieces and nephews and a multitude of friends, who all miss her!
Grave side services will be held on Saturday, November 26, at 11 a m at Lone Oak Cemetery, Leesburg, FL. In lieu of Flowers, please, make a contribution to Cornerstone Hospice, Tavares, FL.
