Artie Willis Richardson owned and operated the oldest funeral business in Miami, Richardson’s Funeral Home. Born in Miami, she was the daughter of Sofie and Artry Willis, one of the black men who were named on the charter incorporating the City of Miami. Artry Willis was an affluent businessman who held titles to several parcels of land.

Artie Willis met Lovell L. Richardson in 1922 and they were married in 1924. She was a member of Greater Bethel A.M.E. Church. She sang in the choir and served in many community and church functions. Her early education was acquired in Miami and Orange Lake, Florida. Later she attended Normal & Industrial Institute for Girls of Daytona Beach, Florida, which later became Bethune- Cookman College.

She and her husband opened their first funeral home in Overtown in 1926. Known as the Stokes/Richardson Funeral Homes, the business was operated in the rear of a building owned by Miami’s first black millionaire, D.A. Dorsey on 10^th Street between Second and Third Avenues. The business failed and the couple went to work on Miami Beach as domestics until they saved up enough money to equip a new funeral home.

When they were able to purchase the equipment-a hearse and a car- they opened the Richardson Funeral Home at 334 N.W. 10^th Street in 1931. In the sixties , Artie Richardson relocated the business to 4500 N.W. 17^th  Street due to Urban Renewal relocations in the Overtown area.