Gentle Giant
Former publisher remembered for dedication to community, family
Richard Folds, former publisher of the Malvern Daily Record, is remembered by people across Malvern for his love and support of this community.
Folds, who died Jan. 4, 2021, spent much of his life as a salesman including selling automobiles, women’s clothing and advertising for the Malvern Daily Record. After serving as ad manager at the MDR for years, in August 2000 he rejoined the newspaper staff as publisher. When he retired in July 2018, he had a combined 27 years of service at the newspaper.
Employees at the Malvern Daily Record said they will always remember Folds’ sense of humor and his caring personality.
Geneva McDaniel who had worked alongside Folds for his entire career said he was an extraordinary person and a “big bear.”
“He would do anything for you,” she said.
McDaniel mentioned that he expected a lot from his employees, but he also expected a lot of himself.
“As publisher of Malvern Daily Record’s sister paper in Benton, I had the pleasure of working closely with Richard for several years before his retirement. I enjoyed our many conversations about
the communities we serve, the people we have the opportunity to work with and the challenges we face,” said Kelly Freudensprung, current publisher of the Malvern Daily Record and The Saline Courier. “Richard’s continuous upbeat attitude was contagious.”
Along with his work at the newspaper, Folds will be remembered for his love of
sports and his dedication to several organizations.
In 2016, Folds was selected to be featured on the Malvern High School Wall of Honor for his support of Malvern athletic programs.
Folds kept statistics for the Malvern Leopards junior high and senior teams for 16 years. He also spent 16 years as president of Malvern Little League Baseball, and coached in the Little League and Hot Spring County Junior
Babe Ruth League as well as coaching Malvern Elementary football teams.
Folds was a member of the
Lions Club, serving as president, and was twice selected as Lion of the Year. He served on the Hot Spring County Development Committee, Malvern/Hot Spring Chamber of
Commerce Board, was on the
Malvern-Hot Spring County
Library Advisory Board and the Emergency Management
Board.
Over the years, Folds made lots of good friends and built strong relationships with many people in this community.
Malvern City Clerk/ Treasurer Phyllis Dial said she and her husband became friends with Folds and his late wife Jo Payne Folds when their children went to preschool together.
She said eventually they became more than friends and instead they became family.
Every time Folds would see her or her children, he would grab their faces and plant a kiss on their foreheads, Dial said.
“He just exuded joy,” she said.
She mentioned that she will always remember the “love he had for life and his family and this community,” Dial said.
John Allan Funk, of JA Funk Funeral Home, said he had known Folds for 25 years.
“He was a funny guy,” he said.
Funk said the two had a strong friendship. Even though there were times when they disagreed, the two men always were able to work things out in the end.
“We were friends through thick and thin,” Funk said.
Circuit Judge Chris Williams said he enjoyed Folds’
sense of humor as well. “There wasn’t a joke he didn’t know or a joke he couldn’t tell and if he didn’t know one, he would make it up,” he said.
Along with enjoying his golf games with Folds and Dr.
Larry Brashears, he has great memories of spending time with the Folds when they were younger.
Each month, a group of couples include the Folds; Williams and his wife, Marsha; Charlie and Elaine Gibbs; Phyllis and Steve Chance and Terri and Richard Colananni would go out to dinner and go dancing.
Williams also mentioned
that he has fond memories of Folds with his two sons.
Williams said that Folds’ sons were raised correctly by their father–they were always gentlemen and had a strong work ethic.
“Everything Dad has done in his life has turned out well because of his strong commitment to excellence and doing things the right way,” said his son Wesley Folds. “Dad’s instruction and advice has never led my brother and I in the wrong direction. For all of it I’m thankful.”
Folds was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. After gradu
ating from Fulton High School, Folds served in the U.S. Navy.
Folds is survived by his children John Richard Folds and his wife, Wendy of Malvern; Wesley Thomas Folds and his wife, Angie of Conway and Laura Jane Folds of California; his grandchildren, Caroline, Mary Kate, Mackenzie, and Jackson; step-grandchildren, Olivia and A. J. Kidder; and several nieces and nephews in Georgia and South Carolina.
Folds was also preceded in death by his late wife Jo Payne Folds, five brothers and three sisters.