Jerry Lee Riggs

Jerry Lee Riggs age 86 of Dresden, TN died on Wednesday, July 26, 2017 at Anna Marie Owen Residential Hospice House in Murray, KY. Funeral arrangements were held on Sunday, July 30, 2017 in Macedonia Church of Christ near Dresden at 2:00 PM with burial that followed in Sunset Cemetery. Corey Sawyers and Phil Gilliam officiated the service. Jerry Lee Riggs was a lifelong resident of Dresden, Tennessee. Mr. Riggs was preceded in death by his parents Louis and Ruby Riggs, his wife, Joy Matheny Riggs, his son, Ricky Riggs, his brother, Marion Riggs, and his sister, Shirley Riggs Norvell. He is survived by his loving wife, Joyce White Foster Riggs; his daughter, Ren Riggs Gilliam (Phil), of Johnson City, Tennessee; his son, Michael "Mike Riggs (Charlene) of Paris, Tennessee; and, his sister, Marjorie Riggs Cooper, of Dresden. He is also survived by five grandchildren: Zachary Gilliam (Laura), of Johnson City, Tennessee; Stefanie Riggs Kemp (Dustin) of Dresden, Tennessee; Katherine Gilliam Westine (Aaron) of Goodlettsville, Tennessee; Aubrey Riggs of Martin, Tennessee; and Seth Gilliam of Johnson City, Tennessee. He is also survived by three great-grandchildren (Silas James Gilliam, Ezra Willis Gilliam, and Ellie Kate Kemp), and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
He was a member of the Macedonia Church of Christ for many years, where he served as a deacon. After his move to Paris, he became a member of the Eastwood Church of Christ. He served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War, and was a member of the American Legion. Over his life he was employed by Argo Collier Trucking Company and All Jersey Milk Company, and then served as Weakley County Sheriff from 1970-74. He was a state Arson Investigator for many years, later serving as the West Tennessee Supervisor for the Department of Insurance, Arson Division. During retirement he enjoyed mowing for the local schools, attending community activities and his grandchildren's sports events, and participating at the Dresden Senior Citizens Center. All of his life he was devoted to the church, his family, friends, work and community. Pallbearers were Kerry Cooper, Chad Cooper, Zachary Gilliam, Mike Sawyers, Randy Cashon, and John Norvell. Honorary Pallbearers included Hugh Adams, Mike Wilson, Seth Gilliam, Kenneth Irvine, nephews and great nephews.