Sarah Juanita Richardson, owner of the Old Home Restaurant & Motel in Adamsville, Tennessee was born on March 16, 1921 in Hardeman County, Tennessee. She was a 1940 graduate of Middleton High School and grew up during the Great Depression with her two brothers and four sisters. Following graduation she worked at the New Southern Hotel in Jackson and later married Joe Richardson. The couple owned and operated a small restaurant in Ripley, Tennessee before moving to Adamsville in the late 1950’s where they bought some property and started a business they named the Old Home Restaurant. It became one of the most popular places to dine in the area. They later built a 14-unit motel, which they opened in 1960 and named their business the Old Home Restaurant & Motel. Following Joe’s untimely death in 1976 Juanita continued to operate the restaurant and motel by herself, turning it into a very successful business. She was known as one of the best cooks for miles around and customers enjoyed her delicious plate lunches, club sandwiches, homemade salad dressings, homemade rolls, and homemade cobblers. In 1994, at the age of 73, she decided to close the restaurant and slow down a little, but still worked seven days a week running the motel.
She was a close friend to former Sheriff Buford Pusser and he came to her for encouragement and advice many times in his life. She spent countless hours telling her motel guests and visitors to the area stories about Buford. Besides being an excellent cook, Juanita had many other talents such as smocking, painting ceramics, and making wreaths and other floral arrangements. She loved to travel, especially overseas, and had visited close to 25 foreign countries including Russia, Greece, Turkey, Sweden, Italy and Egypt. She enjoyed watching the Atlanta Braves, Tennessee Vols, Memphis Tigers, Memphis Grizzlies, and listening to the Adamsville Cardinal games on the radio. Juanita was the oldest member of Adamsville First Baptist Church, most likely the oldest business owner in McNairy County, a member of Eastern Star, and Daughters of the Confederacy.
She departed this life on December 8, 2015 at the age of 94 years, 8 months, 22 days, dying peacefully at her home. She was preceded in death by her parents John Lucian and Hittie Pearl Vaughn Sain, two brothers Mayo and Lenon Sain, and four sisters; Katrina Sain, Jo Ann Sain, Gloria Roberts, and Sue Scott. She is survived by a daughter Nita Evans and husband Tom of Adamsville, whom she often stated she loved like he was her own son; two grandchildren, Natalie Evans Luttrell and husband Kyle of Adamsville; Noah Evans of Adamsville and his fiance’e Allie Rhodes; one great granddaughter Sadie Kate Luttrell of Adamsville, and future twin great granddaughters due in February. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews, and special friends who were like family; Jean Greenley, Liz Knight and Alex Weiler.
