With profound sadness and hearts full of love, we celebrate the beautiful life of Windell Elizabeth Richards, affectionately known as Winnie, Pepsi, and most lovingly, Mama. She peacefully entered her eternal rest on August 2, 2026, in Boston, Massachusetts, at the age of 87.

Windell Elizabeth Richards was born on September 8, 1938, in St. Andrew, Jamaica to the late Herbert and Dionie Richards. She was raised in Kingston, where she completed her high school education and developed the resilience, warmth, and strength that would become the foundation of her remarkable life.

Determined to build a better future for herself and her children, Windell courageously migrated to the United States. Though the journey required the sacrifice of leaving her children behind, once she became established she proudly brought each of them to America because she could not imagine a life without them. Her determination, selflessness, and unwavering love created opportunities that would bless her family.

For many years, Windell faithfully served as a Patient Care Assistant in the Day Surgery Department at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Brookline. She cared for countless patients with compassion, dignity, and kindness, earning the respect of both her coworkers and those entrusted to her care.

A devoted Baptist, Windell's faith was an important part of her life. She believed in loving people, helping others, and putting family first.

To know Mama was to love her. She had a joyful spirit that could brighten any room. If music came on, she was dancing no matter the song or where she was. She loved to sing her gospel songs, laugh, and spend her afternoons watching Judge Judy and Steve Harvey, proudly calling Steve "her man."

Mama loved to tease those she loved. One of her favorite things was "rolling her fists" as if she wanted to play fight, always making everyone laugh. She also had a habit of calling you by someone else's name before finally getting it right, then laughing right along with everyone else.

She looked forward to her birthday every year because it meant a trip for her favorite ice cream grape-nut and rum raisin at the Crescent Ridge Farm in Sharon. Those simple moments brought her so much happiness and became treasured memories for the family she loved so dearly.

More than anything, Mama was known for her heart. She was the type of woman who would give you her last dollar, the shirt off her back, and still ask if you were okay. Her generosity knew no limits, and her kindness touched everyone fortunate enough to know her.

Windell was preceded in death by her husband, her daughter Janet, her grandson Jahshawn, her brother Keith, and her sister Joyce.

She leaves to cherish her precious memory her loving children, Jackie, (Son in law Fenton), Ezett, (Daughter in law Lindsey), and Sonia Vernon; her surviving sister Marjorie, Brother in law Leonidas, and brother in law Thomas Martin, her treasured grandchildren, along with her beloved great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, extended family, and a multitude of cherished friends whose lives were forever touched by her love.

Although our hearts are heavy, we are comforted by the countless memories she leaves behind. We will forever remember her infectious laugh, her dancing spirit, her playful "rolled fists," the way she'd lovingly call everyone the wrong name before laughing at herself, and the unconditional love she poured into everyone around her.

Mama taught us that family is everything, love is meant to be shared freely, and kindness costs nothing but means everything.

Her love will remain in our hearts forever.

"Well done, good and faithful servant."

Matthew 25:23