"An Uncompromising Life"

Maxine Richardson was born on December 13, 1939 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She was the first daughter and second child of Ophelia and Simon Roy Richardson. She attended Metropolitan Baptist Church as a child.

Maxine attended Charles S. Johnson Elementary School, Carver Junior High School and graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in 1958. Maxine matriculated to Langston University and graduated with a Bachelor's of Arts with Music Emphasis. Maxine worked as the Y-Teen Director for the YWCA in Tulsa. She went on to join the Peace Corps where she lived in the Virgin Islands.

Maxine united in marriage in 1983 to Carl Nischan. They made their home in Clinton, Connecticut. Following his death in 1990, Maxine remained in Connecticut. Maxine had a steadfast love for music and teaching. She became a Library Media Specialist and teacher for the New London Public Schools and Hartford Public School Systems.

Maxine felt that education was a big determining factor in advancing your life. She obtained her Master of Library Science from Southern Connecticut State University, Master of Education in Communication, Computers and Technology from Columbia University, New York and Master of Arts in Corporate and Political Communication from Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut. She also did special training in film, Indian and Asian Studies, and Bilingual Education at Columbia and Yale University.

She cherished her Indian Heritage and attended Pow Wows and tribal meetings with the Pequot Indians who lived in her area. Maxine did extensive research on her Father's Indian Heritage and thereby we discovered we were members of the Chickasaw Tribe. Maxine's Indian name was "Autumn Beaver."

Maxine loved to take pictures of her family, friends, students, her travels and her Indian friends. Maxine did a photography exhibit of her Indian Picture collection at a Museum in Connecticut.

Maxine was preceded in death by her husband, Carl Nischan, her father Simon Roy Richardson and her brother Simon Lloyd Richardson. She leaves to cherish her memories: her mother Ophelia Richardson, Tulsa, OK, two sisters: Dr. Margaret Stripling, Tulsa, OK, and Sharon Steele, Dallas, TX, one brother Earnest Richardson, Los Angeles, CA, step-mother Hazel Richardson, step-sisters Angela Myrick, Tulsa, OK, and Anessah Muwwakkil, along with a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins.


Services will be Tuesday March 22, 2016 at 11AM at Morning Star Baptist Church in Tulsa.

Interment will follow at Rolling Oaks Memorial Gardens in Tulsa.

Friends may visit on Monday from 1PM until 7PM as she peacefully slumbers in the All Faiths Chapel in Tulsa.