Margaret Richardson-Wiley Obituary

It is with great sadness that the family announces the death of Margaret Z. Richardson-Wiley, who transitioned from this life to the next on January 8, 2022 at Green Hill Senior Living in West Orange, New Jersey.

Born in Jackson, North Carolina in 1934, Margaret graduated from Orange High School in Orange, New Jersey. Despite having only two years of college, she went from a career as a hair care Technician with Summit Laboratories (where she rose to the title of Vice President), to become the President of the New York Minority Supplier Development Council (NYMSDC), and later the Executive Director of the National Minority Supplier Development Counci (NMSDC) l. Along the way she acquired ownership of the Americana Beauty Salon in Montclair, which she owned and operated until the late 1990s. She went into real estate after retiring from the NMSDC, acquired her broker's license, and became the owner and operator of the Rudd Real Estate Agency (also in Montclair) following the death of its founder John H Rudd. She was inducted into the Minority Business Hall of Fame and Museum in Seattle Washington in 2014. Margaret was also an active member of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Montclair, serving as Treasurer and a member of the governing board until illness forced her to step down.

A devoted wife, mother and grandmother, Margaret leaves to mourn her two children, Brian Richardson and Judith Richardson-Dunkley; their spouses, Ann Richardson and Ddoyd Dunkley; three grandsons, Tyrone Richardson, Jerrod Richardson and Daniel Dunkley; her sister, Sandra Mitchell; two stepdaughters, Sandra Wiley and Gwendolyn Priester; and a host of family and friends. She is pre-deceased by her husband Sampson Wiley, and her brother, Ernest Jenkins.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, January 28, 2022 from 10:00 AM at the Cotton Funeral Service (130 Main Street, Orange, NJ 07050).
The family thanks all who have shown their love and support during this difficult time.