Richard Allen Nesbitt

Richard Allen Nesbitt, Operations Specialist 2nd Class Petty Officer U.S. Navy, 64, of Brandon, Mississippi was welcomed into the presence of the Lord on July 29, 2021. A devoted husband, father and "papa" to four grandchildren, he will be deeply missed, but his family rejoices as he was a man who loved the Lord with deep faith.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Wednesday, August 4, 2021 at Bible Tabernacle in Southern Pines, North Carolina. The family will receive visitors at 5 p.m., an hour before the service begins at 6 p.m. The service will be streamed live with a link available on the Cox Memorial Funeral Home of Vass, NC website. 

Richard, a patriot who served in the U.S. Navy as a young man, was born March 19, 1957 in Pinehurst, North Carolina. He married his hometown sweetheart, Michele Cousins, and together they moved around the southeast as he advanced his career in the Federal Aviation Administration. He owned two fabric stores in Tampa, Florida and Flowood, MS. In his retirement, Richard led RideAbility, a nonprofit organization that offers therapeutic horseback riding for special needs children and adults. 

Together with his wife, Richard sought the Lord daily in Bible study. He led his family well and shared God's truths, the greatest gift to his daughters and many others whose lives he has influenced. He also freely imparted other valuable life lessons such as never touch a cowboy's hat, the secret to a good gumbo is a good roux, and Eskimos have a cold nose. Richard was a bit competitive. There was no mercy in a game of ping pong. He dominated with his impossible-to-return serve. He once broke both wrists playing church league basketball. He was an avid golfer and all-around sports fan. He was the king of dad jokes and master impressionist of leprechauns, gorillas, and galloping horses. 

Richard is survived by his wife, Michele; daughters, Christina (David) Shoemaker of Birmingham, Alabama and Jessica (Justin) Taloney of Mobile, Alabama; four grandchildren, Wyatt and Maddie Shoemaker, and Julia and Bryant Taloney; parents, Charles and Bessie Nesbitt of Southern Pines, NC, and sister, Kathy (Jimmy) Woodall of Cameron, NC.

Contributions can be made in Richard's memory to RideAbility Therapeutic Riding Center through the website www.rideabilityms.com or by mail to RideAbility TRC 117 RideAbility Lane Brandon, MS 39042.

Condolences may be sent to www.coxmemorialfuneralhome.com.

Cox Memorial..."Serving GOD, by serving families in a time of need."

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