Humanitarian Award winner 'singing from the heart'
BY CHASITY GUNN • CGUNN@DNJ.COM • January 4, 2009


When Albert Richardson Jr. was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease, he learned "to appreciate God's gift to me. I started singing from the heart."

The self-dubbed "funeral singer" performs at most local funerals — and doesn't charge a penny.

"Somebody's got to do that," he said. "I'm thankful that people want to hear me sing. People say I sing pretty good."
But Richardson says, "That's just the God in me."

The 52-year-old is this year's Jerry Anderson Humanitarian Award winner, an award given by the two local chapters of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. He and the Rev. Goldy Wade, who is the Jerry Anderson Hero Award winner, will be honored at the Murfreesboro and MTSU NAACP's Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Brunch on Jan. 17.

The humanitarian award is named in honor of Murfreesboro native and football standout Jerry Anderson, who died after saving two boys from drowning in 1989. The first recipient of the award was named in 1990.

Richardson lives with a disease that causes the nerves and muscles to degenerate. Most people with the condition only live two to five years, but Richardson has had it for 13 years. This has puzzled his doctor, who is starting to question whether Lou Gehrig's is the correct diagnosis.

Richardson wears braces on his legs, and he can only move his feet upward.

"My left hand doesn't work too good," he explained. "I (have) learned to deal with my disability. A lot of medication I could take just knocks you out. I would rather deal with the pain. I don't want to sleep my life away."

Richardson is also the honoree of this year's Gospel Extravaganza at MTSU.

Since 2004, Wade has led Murfreesboro's NAACP as president.

"As a public servant, the sacrifice made often goes unnoticed and is taken for granted," wrote Gloria Sweet-Love, president of the state chapter of the NAACP, in her recommendation letter. "He is a man of great integrity. His inviting personality enables him to establish and maintain effective relationships with our community leaders.

"He is diligent not only to his local NAACP unit but also to units in the surrounding counties," Sweet-Love wrote. "He works tirelessly to support individuals who have suffered discrimination and inequality."

http://www.dnj.com:80/article/200901...40322/1002/rss