Richard Redden, a beloved son, brother, father, grandfather, uncle, nephew, cousin, and friend, was born on April 24, 1971, in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Glorietta A. Redden and Junior Smith. He departed this life peacefully surrounded by ones who love him, on August 25, 2026, at 8:28 PM.

Richard was a simple man with a heart that was anything but small.

He may not have had much in this life, but he always found something to give. Even during difficult periods when he was homeless and battling active addiction, Richard would offer to share whatever he had with someone else. His generosity did not depend on what was in his pocket or where he laid his head. It came from his heart.

Family meant everything to Richard. He cherished his children and grandchildren and held a deep love for his mother, siblings, and extended family. He was fiercely loyal and protective of those closest to him. When someone he loved needed him, Richard would stand beside them without hesitation. He was a fighter in every sense of the word, willing to go to the very end for the people who mattered most.

Richard was also a true sports enthusiast and a diehard Cincinnati Bengals fan. Football was one of his greatest passions, and his loyalty to the Bengals never wavered. If you knew Richard, you likely knew exactly where his heart was on game day.

One of Richard’s most meaningful ways of showing love was through food. He loved to cook, especially during the holidays, and carried with him the traditions he had learned from his mother. In his family, food was more than a meal—it was an expression of love, togetherness, and care. When he was able, Richard would welcome anyone he could into his home and around his table. He had a natural gift for bringing people together, and through his cooking, he was able to carry on the traditions that meant so much to him. Even after his mother passed away, Richard continued to honor her memory by bringing food to her grave every holiday, keeping the traditions she had taught him alive and close to his heart.

Richard also had a special place in his heart for animals, particularly cats. He could never turn away a stray and would have given every homeless cat a home if he could. His compassion extended even through his own hardest days. While Richard was homeless, he cared for two cats who lived alongside him in his tent. He made sure they had a place beside him because, in Richard’s eyes, they were family.

Perhaps Richard understood compassion so deeply because he knew what it was like to go without. He experienced hardship, loneliness, and uncertainty, yet those experiences never took away his ability to care for others. He did not judge people for their struggles. Instead, he offered what he could—a meal, a helping hand, a place beside him, or simply his presence.

His family will remember him in countless ways—in the smell of holiday cooking, during football Sundays, through stories shared around the table, in the love he had for others, and in every stray cat that finds it's way into their lives.

Richard’s journey was not always an easy one, but through it all, he continued to give pieces of himself to the people and animals he cared about. He showed love through his actions, protected those who depended on him, and shared whatever he could, no matter how little he had.

Richard is survived by his children, Destiny Smith and Meranda Calderon; his siblings, Larry J. Redden, Sarahnell L. Ran, and Christian L. Cutty; and his many cherished nieces, nephews, and grandchildren. He will be lovingly remembered by his extended family, cousins, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Glorietta A. Redden; his father, Junior Smith; and many beloved cousins.

May he finally have the peace he deserved.

May he never know hunger, homelessness, or hardship again.

And may he be welcomed home with open arms by the loved ones who went before him and by the God who knows the goodness that lived within his heart.

Rest peacefully, Richard.

You fought your battles.You loved your people.You gave what you could. And you left more love behind than you ever knew.

Forever loved, forever missed, forever a part of us.