Taft Richards Jr. was born on September 13, 1953, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was the youngest child of Taft Richards Sr. and Jessie Mae Jackson Richards. Taft Jr. migrated to Dallas, Texas with his family, in 1955. At an early age Taft Jr. joined the Greater Bethlehem Baptist Church of Dallas, Texas, under the leadership of Reverend G.A. Hobart Sheppard.

Taft, affectionately known as JuJu, attended and excelled at St. Anthony Catholic School, Julia C. Frazier Elementary School, Pearl C.  Anderson Junior High and Lincoln High School, from which he graduated, in 1972. While at Lincoln High School, Taft was a member of the Tigers football team, the student council and the National Honor Society. He remained focused on academics and athletics, and as a result, received a football scholarship to East Texas State University.

At East Texas State University, Commerce Texas, Taft Richards joined The Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated, Theta-Theta Chapter, in the Fall of 1973. During his time on the yard, he met the love of his life Angie Nell Dixson, of Longview, Texas. Taft graduated with a Bachelors of Business Administration, in 1976, and an MBA, in 1978.

Post-Graduation, Taft moved back to Dallas, Texas, where he began working at General Motors Corporation in Arlington, Texas. He then married Angie on July 17, 1982. From their union two children were born, Dr. Taft Richards III and Natalie Anju Richards. Taft remained dedicated to his immediate and extended families, his community of East Dallas and his beloved Fraternity throughout his life.

Taft is preceded in death by his parents, and brothers Wardell H. Richards and Charles E. Richards Sr. He leaves to mourn and cherish his memory, his wife Angie Richards, son Dr. Taft Richards III, daughter Natalie Anju Richards, sister Dr. C.J. Richards-Carty and a host of family and friends.