Richard C. Friley

Richard Charles Friley was born on August 12, 1954, the eighth of nine children, to Jerry Lee and Hannah B. Thomas Friley. 

Richard was educated in the Humphreys County school system of Belzoni, Mississippi. Upon graduating from high school, he matriculated at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, and graduated in 1976 with a Bachelor of Business Administration/Management degree. He enrolled at Tennessee State University in 1985, earning a Master of Business Administration.

Immediately following his graduation from Fisk University, Richard began his professional career with Eaton Corporation. In 1979, he joined Ford Motor Company as a production control analyst in Nashville, and during his seventeen-year tenure, he moved through the ranks to his final position of purchasing associate, Dearborn, Michigan.

In 1996, Richard achieved his dream of becoming a business owner as founder and president of Aggregate Logistics. Later, in 2000, he launched and founded InCare Transportation, Inc. In 2004, he co-founded InShuttle Transportation, Inc. and served as vice president of operations; from 2013 until his passing, he served as company president and CEO. Currently, InShuttle provides services to groups, companies, educational institutions, and the Tennessee Titans’ home games. The agreement with the Titans organization was a source of great pride and accomplishment for Richard.

Richard was an ardent supporter of Fisk and a lifetime member of the General Alumni Association. He was also a member of Chi Boulé, an organization dear to his heart because of its commitment to helping others.

Richard was a man of faith. He loved God, family, church, and Fisk. He had a servant’s heart and always strived to treat others fairly, honestly, and respectfully in his personal and professional life. He was an active and involved member at Pleasant Green Baptist Church, serving as a deacon for many years. He was affectionately known by the kitchen crew as the “King of Pleasant Green.”

Richard will be greatly missed by his wife of 45 years, Sharon Turner-Friley; daughter, Jessica (James) Ensley; beloved grandchildren, Junior and Annita; sisters, Charlene Hunt (Pascagoula, MS), Debbie Friley (Belzoni, MS); brother, Thomas (Delores) Friley (Gautier, MS); mother-in-law, Liz Turner; brothers-in-law, Dr. Bernard Turner and Michael Turner (Cleveland, OH), godson, Reverend Robert (Angelica) King (Austell, GA); friend and “work wife,” Teresa Johnson; lifelong friends, James Purnell, Frederick Owens, Milton Ricks, and Charles Story; as well as a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Family Visitation will be held from 11:00-12:30pm Chi Boulé Service at 12:30 with Memorial Service to follow at 1:00pm on Saturday, September 14, 2024, at Pleasant Green Missionary Baptist Church, 1410 Jefferson St., Nashville, TN 37208. Dr. Christopher Jackson, Senior Pastor. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Friley’s Purple Posse c/o PanCAN, 1500 Rosecrans Avenue, Suite #200, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266. http://support.pancan.org/goto/RichardFriley