The couple shares their perspective about what has allowed their marriage to last decades .
Q : What are the strongest qualities in your marriage ?
Dianne : “ We have two lives and a life together .”
She enjoys shopping , while Mervin enjoys hunting , together they attend church , do community service , and travel .
Mervin : “ I didn ’ t care much about traveling in the beginning , but in marriage you make compromises and now I enjoy going .”
Q : How have you been able to overcome obstacles that arise ?
Mervin : “ No matter what we move forward together .”
Dianne : “ It ’ s not just his way , it ’ s our way . I have always walked beside him and not behind him when it comes to making decisions in our household .”
Q : What is most important to creating a strong marriage ?
Q : How do you avoid conflicts about finances ?
The couple agrees that Mervin is the spender , while Dianne is the saver .
Mervin : “ I am the initial breadwinner in our household so I would always give my paycheck to her because I know that she is better at managing my money than I am .”
Dianne : “ I work with a budget so that we buy things we need and have money there when we want to spend it .”
“ He knows it ’ s an act of God to get me to agree to spend unnecessarily ,” she said smiling .
Q : What is the most rewarding part about being married for 50 years ?
Dianne : “ The most rewarding is to see our kids successful and grandchildren working towards success .”
“ We are able to spoil our grandchildren and travel all over the world .”
Mervin : “ I am glad the Lord has kept us together . No matter what we have kept God at the center of our marriage .”
“ Our advice to young couples is to look over imperfections ; You have to learn to grow together ; You can ’ t learn to love your family until you learn to love the Lord .”
Over 50 years together , there are so many memories that can be shared between the couple . However , they each have one that is special to each of them and another that they are grateful for together .
Dianne : “ Everyone has to be their own person .”
Mervin : “ Listen , don ’ t just force your way onto the other person .”
Q : How do you keep the romance alive and love unbreakable ?
Mervin : “ I don ’ t just walk away when we disagree . I always grab her and hug her .”
Mervin and Dianne Richardson renewed their vows in November 2022 .
26 Valdosta Scene | February 2023