Ann Richards Kearns peacefully passed away at her home June 25, 2021 after a long journey with Alzheimer’s. Throughout her life she was committed to education, diversity and developing women of color as leaders.
She was born and raised in the segregated city of Suffolk, Virginia. She earned her BS degree in mathematics from Randolph Macon Women’s College in Lynchburg, VA and her master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Trinity College in Washington, D.C.
Throughout her career, she taught, advocated for, and improved the lives of hundreds of children. She was an early childhood education teacher for many years in Montgomery County Public Schools (MD) and retired as an early childhood education specialist for Jefferson County Public Schools (KY).
Ann’s achievements as an educator were numerous. At Trinity College, she designed and implemented the workshop, “Creating a Multicultural Environment in an Early Childhood Setting”. As a Montgomery County schoolteacher, she studied black authors and won a Fellowship for Independent Study in the Humanities to advocate for their inclusion in school curriculum. In both Montgomery and Jefferson County, she created after school cultural clubs for her female students of color to help build their confidence and leadership skills.
Her husband of 51 years, The Rev. Curtis A. Kearns Jr., and her two children Andre and Chandra survive her. As her family reflects on the impact of her career, it inspires them to know that so many students benefited from her caring, just as her own children did.
In lieu of flowers, we encourage people to make a memorial donation in Ann’s name to Community Bridges, an organization with a mission incredibly aligned to her life’s work. Thank you.