Sara Richardson Thomas
Member of the Mississippi House of Representatives from the 31st district
In office 1999–2019
Preceded by	Bill Richardson
Succeeded by	Otis Anthony II
Personal details
Born	(1941-04-21) April 21, 1941 Indianola, Mississippi, U.S.
Political party	Democratic

Sara Richardson Thomas (born April 21, 1941) is an American educator and politician from Indianola, Mississippi. She was a member of the Mississippi House of Representatives from the 31st District, having first been elected in 1998 to succeed her nephew, Bill Richardson, who had died in office, and having retired in June 2018. She is a member of the Democratic Party.^[1]

Background

Thomas, the daughter of sharecroppers, attended Mississippi Valley State University and Delta State University.^[2] She taught language arts in the public elementary schools of Sunflower County, Mississippi for 21 years before becoming a principal. She is married to Arthur Lee Thomas.

Legislative service

In 1997, her nephew Bill Richardson, who represented the 31st district, died of cancer. Thomas was elected to fill the vacancy in 1998, and would serve in that office for 21 years. In late June 2018, it was announced that she had resigned effective June 30. At that time, she was serving on the House committees on Agriculture, Education, Ethics, Investigating State Offices, Public Property and Youth and Family Affairs.^[3]

References

Further reading

• House Resolution 50, vol. 2021 Regular Session, Mississippi Legislature