Former NBA Star Richard Jefferson Credits His Mother, Meekness LeCato, As His Constant Supporter After Parents’ Separation
Olivia Zamora
Published May 15, 2026
Former NBA Star Richard Jefferson Credits His Mother, Meekness LeCato, As His Constant Supporter After Parents’ Separation
Richard Jefferson got his towering height from his mother Meeknees, who is 5'11'' and his late father, Richard Sr. who was 6'2''
June 7, 2026
This article was last updated by Manoj Gadtaula on June 5, 2026
Richard Jefferson, a former NBA player and current analyst, often expresses his love for his parents, especially his mother, for being there through both the good and bad times.
Richard Allen Jefferson Jr. was born on June 21, 1980, in Los Angeles, California, United States, to parents Richard Allen Jefferson Sr and Meekness LeCato.
Moreover, his parents split up during his early childhood, and he, along with his two siblings, was raised solely by his mother, Meekness LeCato.
Meekness LeCato, previously known as Wanda Marshall, raised Richard Jefferson and his two elder siblings as a single mother in Los Angeles before relocating to Phoenix, Arizona, in 1986, due to its lower cost of living.
Despite struggles and hard times, Meekness LeCato never lost hope, and with her strong faith in Christianity, she raised all three of her kids to be successful in their respective fields.
In an interview, Richard Jefferson’s mother, Meekness, stated that her fortunes changed when she was taught in church to believe in Proverbs 18:21, the biblical verse that begins, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.“
She said:
“I got a job right away in Phoenix, and every day I went to work confessing what I wanted. I was just using what God had said: ‘Death and life are in the power of the tongue.’ I try to be very, very selective with my words because they’re not idle words. Words are full of life and power.”
Richard Jefferson also credits his mother, Meekness LeCato, for instilling in him the Christian faith and a mindset of positive thinking, both of which helped him succeed on the basketball court and in life.
Richard Jefferson’s Mother, Meekness LeCato, Currently Serves As Both A Professor And A Missionary
Her Christian faith not only helped Meekness LeCato navigate her struggles with a positive outlook but also played a key role in building her career as an educator and inspirational speaker.
After moving to Phoenix, Arizona, Meekness began working in different jobs, guiding and supporting Richard in his sports journey.
Furthermore, it was in Phoenix that Meekness reconnected with Richard’s stepfather, John LeCato, a childhood friend from Philadelphia, and the two eventually married.
Happily married for over three decades, Richard Jefferson’s parents, Meekness and John LeCato, together founded their church and began missionary work in East Africa.
In an interview, Richard Jefferson stated that he tries to help people inspired by his parents, who constantly strive to assist those in need.
“I’ve tried to help people – mostly because of my parents’ example. We always had people in our house, we always had people staying with us until they got on their feet – just trying to do the right thing in our community. Those are things that stuck with me, and I believe a lot of the blessings you get in life are a reflection of how you treat other people.”
Richard’s mother, Meekness LeCato, a high school dropout, now serves as a professor in the English department at South Mountain Community College in Phoenix and has earned her doctorate.
Besides serving as an exceptional professor, Meekness also serves as a motivational speaker, missionary, and nutritional coach.
Richard Jefferson’s Father, Richard Jefferson Sr., Was Tragically Killed In 2018
While not much is known about Richard Jefferson’s late father, Richard Jefferson Sr’s professional journey, he lost his life in a tragic firearm incident.
Richard Allen Jefferson Sr., April 20, 1953, in the US Naval Hospital in Corpus Christi, Nueces County, Texas, passed away on September 19, 2018, at the age of 65 in Compton, Los Angeles, California, United States.
Furthermore, Richard’s father, a resident of Inglewood, was fatally shot on September 19, 2018, in the 600 block of West Peach Street in Compton, according .
He drove to the P&G Market in Compton and parked near the store, and then went to the market and then walked across Paulsen Street and started talking to a man on the sidewalk when a dark-colored sedan passed by heading south around 6:52 p.m.
According to the police report, a person in the car began shooting Jefferson Sr. multiple times, and he was immediately taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 7:02 p.m.
Investigators initially believed that the shooting was a result of gang conflict, with gang members mistakenly believing Jefferson Sr. and the others were members of a rival gang.
However, it later became clear that Jefferson Sr. and the others were not involved in gangs and had been targeted due to a misunderstanding. Neither Richard Jefferson Sr. nor the other men he was with were ever involved in gangs.
Despite the offer of a $20,000 reward, the case remains unsolved, and police are still seeking information from the public.
Richard Jefferson, who was raised by his mother and stepfather in Arizona, grew closer to his father, Jefferson Sr., in recent years before his father’s tragic passing.
The former NBA star and his children spent their summers in Los Angeles’s South Bay, near his father’s home in Inglewood.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Richard Jefferson won the bronze medal in the 2004 Olympics representing the United States and a gold medal in the FIBA Americas Championship in 2003.
- He began his NBA journey with the New Jersey Nets in 2001 and retired from his 17-year career in 2018 after playing for the Denver Nuggets.
- Check other Articles on
Suruchi is a business management student with a strong passion for writing, particularly when it comes to sports. She loves creating articles and blogs that explore various aspects of the sports world. With a curious mind and a love for both academics and creativity, she constantly seeks to expand her knowledge and share her insights through her writing.
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