James Willis Briggs

“I will sing Your praise, for You have done such a marvelous thing. For someone so wretched, yet my soul You have redeemed. No one else could do it, no one could care half as much, yet you thought My soul was worth it….. so You gave Your only Son, You gave that I might live, You gave that I might be set free - - exchanged Your life for mine, what a marvelous thing You’ve done.” James was born in Lewisville, Arkansas. His parents were the late Sid and Nellie Rose and Peter Briggs. He departed this life on Monday, February 18, 2008 at Baptist Medical Center, Arkadelphia, Arkansas. He united with the Union Hill Baptist Church in Lewisville, Arkansas before moving to Sacramento, California where he was a member of the Macedonia Baptist Church. After returning to Arkadelphia, he united with the Mt. Canaan Baptist Church in Gurdon, Arkansas where he was a member of the men’s Sunday School class, Men’s Fellowship class, and Bible Study class. He graduated from Foster High School in Lewisville, Arkansas. He was employed for over 36 years and retired as a Technical Supervisor. James was preceded in death by parents the late Sid and Nellie Rose, Peter Briggs, and sister Lady Grace Rose. He leaves to cherish his memories: Rose Marie Simmons and one child, Ruby; five sisters, Barbara (Elvie) Jamerson, Lewisville, Arkansas, Shirley (Fay) Jackson, Hope, Arkansas, Linda (Johnny) Harris, Arkadelphia, Arkansas, Joyce (Lewis) Shepherd, Arkadelphia, Arkansas, and Shaunna Johnson, Dallas, Texas; his adopted sister Mary (David) Williams, Gurdon, Arkansas; one aunt Emma Brown of Texarkana, Texas and an abundance of loving and devoted nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and the Mt. Canaan Church family. James favorite scripture: “The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me lie down in green pastures: He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou are with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.” Psalm Twenty Three Mr. Briggs will lie in state at Williams Funeral Home on Friday, February 22, 2008 from 12 noon until 4:00 p.m. The Briggs family will greet friends and share with them the Images of Life DVD from 6:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Greater Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, 16th & Caddo Streets, Arkadelphia. The family will share last tributes to the life of James Willis Briggs on Saturday, February 23, 2008, at 11:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary of Mt. Canaan Baptist Church where Rev. Johnny Harris is the pastor and will preach a message of comfort and hope. Dr. Lewis A. Shepherd, Jr., will render the funeral oration. Active bearers of the casket will be David Williams, Thomas Ollison Sam Hardwick, Billy Lockhart Phillip Giles and Danny Hart. Honorary bearers of the casket will be Donnie Jackson, Darrion Hill, Jarrod Harris, Gary Wayne Davenport, Felton Jackson, Jamel Wesley, Joe Simmons, Sam Hart, Davion Williams and Peter Briggs. The Committal Service & Final Resting Place will be at the Union Hill Cemetery in the Boyd Hill Community, Lewisville, Arkansas.