Allison Cecilia Richards

Allison Cecilia Richards went home to be with the Lord Monday, March 7, 2022. She was born on September 23, 1960 in Washington, D.C. and was the daughter of Eleanor “Becky” Plitt and Donald C. Demeritt, and step-daughter of Bill Plitt.

She grew up in Rockville, MD and graduated from Rockville High School in 1978, having been a proud member of drama club, chorus, and her church youth group, as well as a passionate fan of Elton John. She attended Montgomery College before starting her career in administration, beginning as a legal secretary.

She met her husband, Jim Richards, during a power outage in the same apartment building in Gaithersburg and they were married in July 1988 at Eyler’s Valley Chapel in Emmitsburg, MD, and decided to settle down in Thurmont, where they’ve been ever since. In 1996, after the birth of her two children, she left the legal world to start Catoctin Lighting Services with Jim and became vice president of the company. She was a member of Thurmont United Methodist for 30 years where she taught Sunday School, sang in the choir, and participated in numerous Bible studies and Emmaus retreats. 

She was preceded in death by both her parents and her step-father. She is survived by Jim, her husband of 33 years; her son, Evan Richards of Baltimore; her daughter, Rebecca and son-in-law, Philip Dickerson of Gettysburg, PA; her grandchildren, Titus, Gabriel, and Baby Dickerson; her brother, Kevin and sister-in-law, Debbie Demeritt of Camden, Delaware; her sister, Elaine and brother-in-law Stephen Karp of Boston, MA; her brother Tom and sister-in-law Doris Plitt of Pasadena, MD; her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Gene and Dee Brown of Redwood, NY; and her nieces and nephews Noah Brown, Rebekah Randall, Mark Demeritt, and Shelby Karp.

She loved her Lord Jesus Christ, her family, her grandsons (who she spoiled so generously), her church family, her dear friends from high school, Anne, George, and Don, and her adopted rescue cat companion, Molly. Her incredibly joyful spirit, her amazing talent for gift-giving, and her laugh will be dearly missed, but all who knew her know she is now walking in glory with the Lord, with no pain and no tears in her heavenly home. 

Donations in her memory may be made to Christ’s Community Church, 303 West Lincoln Ave Emmitsburg, MD 21727 or Thurmont United Methodist Church, 13880 Long Rd, Thurmont, MD 21788.

A funeral service honoring her well-lived life will be held at Thurmont United Methodist Church, 13880 Long Road in Thurmont on Thursday, March 17, with viewing hours from 9:00 - 11:00 am, with the funeral beginning at 11:00 am. She will be interred at Blue Ridge Cemetery, 121 N. Altamont Ave Thurmont, MD 21788 immediately following the funeral, and a luncheon will follow to celebrate her at Thurmont United Methodist Church.

Allison's care has been entrusted to Black’s Funeral Home of Thurmont; online condolences may be made at blacksfuneralhomes.com