Gary Dave Richards

It was one of the greatest English poets, Sir William Shakespeare, who penned these words many centuries ago: “All the world's a stage; and all men and women merely players; they all have their exits and entrances.” However, one does not have to be an expert of the theater to recognize that entrances and exits, as important as they may be, are not the most important aspect of the production. What is most important is what the actor or actress does while he or she is on stage. On Thursday, April 6, 1967, Gary Dave Richards, made his entrance onto the world stage. No television or radio stations announced his arrival. Gary, a very handsome man, was the child of Violet Morgan and the late Canute Richards. He was born at Port Maria Hospital in Saint Mary, Jamaica, West Indies. He attended Saint Catherine Primary School and then Saint Catherine High School. At the tender age of 10, he accepted God as his Lord and Savior and was baptized at Saint John Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Spanish Town. Soon after, he became ill with rheumatic fever, which affected his heart, causing him to be hospitalized for four months. Due to his illness, Gary was given until the age of 17 to live by his attending doctors. In August of 1982, Gary migrated to the United States at the age of 13, along with his sisters to join their mother. He attended Evander Childs High School in the Bronx, New York. After graduating high school, he attended Borough of Manhattan Community College, where he was pursuing a degree in Business Management. Gary was very reserved as a child and grew up to be a private person. However, he liked to play dominoes, loved to spend time with his family and was always happy to go back home to Jamaica. Gary enjoyed cooking, barbecuing, and using his smoker to make delicious meals. His favorite foods were fish, his mother's stew, peas, and her fruit cake. In 1998, Gary met the love of his life Sharine Wishart, through family friends. Their relationship began as a long-distance romance in 2006 but blossomed into their marital union on May 25, 2008. After their nuptials, Gary relocated to Florida to be with his bride. Throughout their marriage, Gary and Sharine were avid travelers who visited many countries around the world. Their recent travels brought Gary back to Jamaica for his 58th birthday in April of this year. Gary and Sharine had a wonderful time celebrating with his parents, aunts, cousins, and friends of the family. Gary was happy to reunite with old family members and meet new ones. Over the course of his life, Gary held esteemed positions with different companies. While in New York, he worked at Estée Lauder for more than twenty years as a Senior Corporate Sales Specialist. In Florida, he worked in Merchandise Sales at the "Happiest Place on Earth," Walt Disney World Parks and Resorts. But, it was his heart for service that brought Gary to the Orlando Health - Dr. Phillips Hospital, where he worked for the last eight years. During his tenure, he worked in the food & nutrition department and most recently in guest services in the emergency room. Although given a diagnosis that should have ended his life by seventeen years of age, God granted Gary an additional forty-one years to live a beautiful life. On Monday, August 18, 2025, Gary took his last breath and was called by the Lord to his rest. Although our hearts are heavy, man does not have the answers, but we must trust in God because He knows what is best. Today, Gary will forever live on in our hearts and memories. He will never be forgotten! Gary leaves behind: his wife, Sharine; his parents, Violet and Russell; his sisters, Andrea, Sheryl, Lisa, and Monique; his nieces: Shamique, Zenovia, and Markis; and his nephew, Malcolm. He is also survived by a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws, friends, and his supportive church family at Mount Olive Seventh Day Adventist Church.

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Gary Dave Richards

April 6, 1967 - August 18, 2025