Charles Riggs

Rev. Charles Raymond Riggs, 93, of Monett, Missouri, formerly of Cookeville, Tennessee, passed away at 9:40 p.m. Monday, April 13, 2009. He was born October 15, 1915, in Randolph County, Arkansas, the son of the late Ernest and Eva (Dawson) Riggs. In November of 1934, he was married to Velma Staten and she passed away two months later. He then was united in marriage to Winona Mae Gates on October 25, 1936. She preceded him in death in March 1999. Then he married Burnice Davis on July 22, 1999, in Cookeville, Tennessee, and she survives.

Raymond was a retired Freewill Baptist minister.

Raymond is survived by his wife; four sons: Charles Riggs, of Hewett, Texas, Ken Riggs, of Springfield, Tennessee, Randy Riggs, of Joelton, Tennessee, and Steve Riggs, of Nantes, France; two daughters: Ramona Sessoms, of Chesapeake, Virginia, and Pat Daniel, of Calhoun, Georgia; two step-sons: Jim Davis, of Cedar Falls, Iowa, and Rick Davis, of Monett, Missouri; one step-daughter: Sue Henderson, of Monett, Missouri; three brothers: Dwight Riggs, of Columbia, South Carolina, Jim Riggs, of Florida, and Lehman Riggs, of Cookeville, Tennessee; three sisters: Dorothy BugBee, Lake Tansi, Tennessee, Betty Mullins, of Algood, Tennessee, and Lenna Mitchener, of Wisconsin; 31 grandchildren, 48 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.

Along with his parents and two wives, Raymond was also preceded in death by four sisters, Eileen, Madeline, Geneva and Ernestine.

Funeral services will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 15, 2009, at Bennett-Wormington Funeral Home, Monett, Missouri, with Rev. Lee Neill officiating. Burial will be in the Crest Lawn Memorial Cemetery in Cookeville, Tennessee. Visitation will be Wednesday, April 15, 2009, from 6 p.m. till service time at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Freewill Baptist International Missions in care of the funeral home.

Condolences may be made online at www.bennettwormington.com.

Arrangements ate under the care of Bennett-Wormington Funeral Home, Monett, Missouri.

PAID OBITUARY