Richard Clarke England III, 48, passed away at his in-laws’ home in Jackson on Dec. 26, 2025, after a brief illness.
Memorial services were held 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 3, at Estes Church of Christ with Mark Blackwelder and Doug Burleson officiating.
He was born on Sept. 1, 1977, to Richard England, Jr. and Barbara Williams England in Memphis. He attended high school at Jackson Christian School before receiving a bachelor’s degree in special education and a Master of Education in administration and supervision from Freed-Hardeman University. His freshman year of high school, his family moved to Jackson. That year, he met a sophomore who became the love of his life, Meredith White. She was the only girl he dated, and the one he would marry. They married on May 23, 1998 and celebrated over 27 years of marriage. On their fourth anniversary, they welcomed their son Eli. Two years later, daughter Ella completed their family. Richard loved his children fiercely and took every opportunity to talk about them and how proud they made him.
He began his career teaching special education in 1998 at Whitehall Elementary School. He also taught special education and computer science at Lincoln Magnet School before moving into administration. Blending a heart for education and a love of technology, he worked as a teacher, instructional technology coordinator and director of technology in Jackson Madison County Schools, Fayette County Public Schools and Hardeman County schools as well as a systems administrator at Freed-Hardeman University.
He loved music. He spent many nights playing “YouTube DJ” for family and friends. He loved rhythm and began using spoons and pans to drum on until he convinced his parents to buy a drum set in junior high. Richard became an accomplished percussionist who loved all types of music. Working with a wide range of percussion instruments, his performances as part of an ensemble included musicals such as “The Secret Garden,” “Little Shop of Horrors,” “Roger’s and Hammerstein’s Cinderella,” and “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown.” He also served as a studio musician/drummer for recordings at Dark Horse Recording studios working with Grammy winning audio engineers. Through the years, he also freely donated his services for various performances such as a benefit for the STAR Center in Jackson performing with Stan Perkins and Kelley Cash. He also loved camping, cooking and watching MASH, The Golden Girls, Andy Griffith, The Muppets and War World II documentaries.
He begrudgingly found a love for roller coasters after several annual trips to Kings Island with his Uncle Bobby, Meredith, Eli, and Ella. He was a fan of College Gameday, Tennessee Vols football and whoever was playing Alabama. Richard worshiped at the Jacks Creek Church of Christ and had previously been a longtime member of the Estes Church of Christ.
He leaves behind his wife, Meredith White England; son, Eli; daughter, Ella (Troy Elliott); his parents; sister, Amy (Luke) Van Buskirk; brother, Micah (Tori) England; sister Katie (Greg) Maxwell; father and mother-in-law, Butch and Paula White; brother-in-law, Jason (Marsha) White; and nieces and nephews, Mason and David White, Owen, Grace, Ellie, Matthew and Asa VanBuskirk, Hadassah and Timothy England and Lily Jo and Dottie Maxwell.
