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MARRIAGE
Everlasting
Mervin and Dianne Richardson celebrate 50 years together
by BRITTANYE BLAKE photography by KELLIE RAE PHOTOGRAPHY
Mervin and Dianne Richardson celebrated 50 years of marriage in 2022 . The two met at a young age in Howell , Georgia , a small community in Echols
County .
Mervin said he remembers asking Dianne ’ s father in the 10th / 11th grade to see her . He said , “ She didn ’ t know I asked him until later , but I did and he told me no .” A year later , Mervin would ask again and this time he was told , “ yes .”
The pair married at the ages of 18 and 19 on November 12 , 1972 .
“ We were told we were too young and it wasn ’ t going to last but we were too stubborn to listen . As the years grew we just grew together ,” Mervin said , “ Now 50 years , we are glad we made that decision . We may have had a few crossroads but we stuck together .”
In November 2022 , they renewed their vows in a ceremony with their original wedding party and additional family and friends .
Dianne said , “ Planning for the first one was easy but it took me almost three years to plan the 50th wedding ceremony .”
She said in planning both ceremonies she had a lot of assistance and support from family and friends to help plan the ceremony that she wanted .
The wedding party included a few original bridesmaids , the original flower girl , and the ring bearer , but it was very special for their children Teresa and Jason to be apart .
Their grandchildren , Laila and Tyree , gave Dianne away to be married to Mervin , again .
Mervin said smiling , “ I had to pay them to marry my wife .”
Dianne said , “ That was Teresa ’ s idea to have them ask for money at the altar in order to give me away .”
While the moment physically included those most important , the couple had a ‘ Memory Tree ’ to memorialize those who had passed since or before their first wedding ceremony .
At their renewal , Mervin presented Dianne with a Pandora bracelet with a 50th Anniversary Charm , while Dianne presented Mervin with a new wedding band .
Mervin said , “ Those are just things . What is important to me is that we love God and we love one another .”
Dianne and Mervin said the renewal was an opportunity to include everyone making it a family , friend , and church occasion to celebrate their golden anniversary .
22 Valdosta Scene | February 2023