Richard Charles Page

Richard Charles (Dick) Page, 88, passed away in Franklin, Tennessee, on September 6, 2026.

Born in Syracuse, New York, on October 21, 1937, to Charles and Anna Noxon Page, Dick lived in Ohio until age 5 when his father, a forester, moved his family to Tennessee and began work for TVA. After short stints in Waynesboro and Lawrenceburg, the family settled in Chattanooga where he spent the rest of his youth. A 1955 graduate of Tyner High School, he was also active in Boy Scouts and Brainerd Presbyterian Church Youth Group from which he still had close friends. College took him to Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, where he studied Botany and met and married Barbara Ann Estes in 1962. Their 59-year marriage started off in Dalton, Georgia, where he worked at a nursery. Next they moved to Amherst, Massachusetts, where he pursued graduate studies in Horticulture and in exchange for janitorial duties they lived in an apartment in Wesley Memorial Church. Next the couple moved to Raritan, New Jersey, where he would work at the former Duke Gardens. Around 1965 they moved to Detroit, Michigan and he began work as a horticulturist at Belle Isle, a public island park in the Detroit River between the United States and Canada. Here, Dick took an interest in orchids and botanical art. His two children Laurie and Rick were born in Detroit, and the family stayed there until 1972, when Dick’s mother made him aware of a job opening in Nashville, Tennessee, at Cheekwood Botanical Gardens and Fine Arts Center. Dick’s first position at Cheekwood was Assistant Director of the Botanical Gardens, a job which required living on the property. Eventually Dick rose to the position of Director of the Botanical Gardens where his major contributions were expanding the orchid and tropical plant collections, including a cloud forest greenhouse. He was also very involved in development of the Japanese Garden. This role at Cheekwood took him across continents to Asia (Japan), Central America (Panama), and Europe (Holland and England). Remarkably, during his expedition to Panama, Dick discovered a species of plant that bears his name: Anthurium pageanum. But perhaps most of all, he was known for his love and gentleness with staff and visitors.

DIck left Cheekwood after 22 years and became a certified arborist. Almost immediately he became much sought after for his expertise, artistry, and attention to detail. One of his favorite endeavors was training younger arborists in the craft, or teaching his clients about his work. Invariably he would be accompanied by his golden retriever to whatever work site his blue minivan carried him.

Outside of work, Dick had varied but specific interests: collecting post-war Lionel trains, cultivating irises, working in his yard, cheering for Duke basketball, spending time with his children and grandchildren, and for more than 50 years singing tenor in the Belle Meade Methodist Church choir. His quick wit, warmth, and neighborly attitude ensured that Dick collected lifelong friends from everywhere he worked and everywhere he lived.

Dick is survived by his children Laurie (Page) Williams (Ned), and Rick Page (Selena); grandchildren, Kate Williams Sullivan (Ben), Laney Williams, Elizabeth Williams, Caleb Williams, Reed Page, Wyatt Page and Darby Page; great-grandchildren, Graham Sullivan, Kennedy Sullivan, and Mollie Sullivan; brother, Don Page several nephews, nieces and his beloved dog, Molly. He is preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Anna Page and his wife Barbara Estes Page.

His memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, September 19, 2026, at 11am (visitation at 10am) at Belle Meade United Methodist Church, 121 Davidson Rd., Nashville Tennessee 37205.

The Sarah P. Duke Gardens, at the Duke University campus, has graciously offered to honor Dick by adopting in his memory one of its Terraces. [Historic Gardens & Terraces | Duke Gardens (https://gardens.duke.edu/gardens/historic-gardens/)]

It is hard to imagine a tribute more fitting to him, and we encourage you—if you feel led, to make a gift to the Gardens annual fund or become a supporting member of Duke Gardens. [Join & Give | Duke Gardens (https://gardens.duke.edu/support/)]

Memorial donations may also be made to Belle Meade United Methodist Church or to either “Alzheimer’s Tennessee,” or “the Alzheimer’s Association, Tennessee Chapter.”