richardson first met maynard jackson, at that time the first black mayor of atlanta, in 1976 at a party hosted by singer roberta flack. they were married in 1977, and she became stepmother to his three children from his previous marriage, later giving birth to two girls of their own, valerie amanda and alexandra. during her husband's tenure as mayor, she served as advisor to the city's economic development program, bringing to atlanta such national and international events as the 1988 democratic national convention and the 1996 summer olympics.