Henry Miller Richmond

Henry Miller Richmond, retired banker and a leader for decades in Helena-West Helena civic life, died Friday at his home in Rogers after a long illness. He was 77. Mr. Richmond retired in 2003 as senior vice president and cashier/trust officer of First National Bank of Phillips County after 47 years of service. He joined the bank as a bookkeeper in 1956 after his graduation with honors from Helena-West Helena Central High School. He later served as a teller, assistant cashier, assistant vice president, cashier, and vice president and cashier. He continued his education as a banker, graduating from the School of Banking of the South at Louisiana State University in 1964, the National Automation School at Purdue University in 1966, the National Trust School at Northwestern University in 1972, the National Graduate Trust School at Northwestern in 1986, and the American Banking Association's Graduate School of Bank Investments and Financial Management at the University of Colorado in 1992. Mr. Richmond was a tireless public servant. He was president of the Helena-West Helena School Board, chairman of the Helena Water and Sewer System, and secretary of the Helena-West Helena Port Authority. When Helena and West Helena merged their municipal governments, he was a member of the transition team. He and his wife of 58 years, Sandra Foreman Richmond, have long been active in the Helena United Methodist Church. Mr. Richmond was finance chairman and chairman of the church's endowment fund. In his early adulthood, Mr. Richmond was a member of the Arkansas National Guard for about 10 years. He was a president of the Helena Lions Club. The Richmonds moved to Rogers earlier this year to be near members of their extended family. Mr. Richmond was born Jan. 10, 1939, in West Helena to William Grady Richmond Sr. and Lois McCoy Richmond. Survivors, in addition to his wife, are two sons, Keith Alan Richmond (Paulita) of Cassville, Mo., and James Christian (Chris) Richmond (Cindy Gail), of Lowell, Ark.; two daughters, Sheri Richmond Owens (Tim) of Fayetteville, Ark., and Cindi Richmond Fountain (Doug) of Austin, Texas; six grandchildren, Matthew Owens, Dylan Richmond, Mark Owens, Rachel Fountain, Kelsey Richmond, and Mark Fountain; three sisters, Carrie (Sis) Burt of West Helena, Ark., Luetta Dawson of Lexa, Ark., and Lori Patton of Marion, Ark.; one brother, Bob Richmond (Jean) of Trenton, Ark.; and a host of nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; and two brothers, William Grady Richmond Jr. and Irvin Wilson Richmond. Memorial services will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Helena at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 28. Interment will be at Benton County Memorial Park. Memorial gifts may be made to the First United Methodist Church Endowment Fund, 502 Porter Street, Helena, Ark. 72342.