The Life of Willard Anthony Briggs Jr.
Funeral Services will be held at a 10:30 am Mass of Christian Burial on Monday, June 27, 2011 at St. Edmond Catholic Church for Willard Anthony Briggs, Jr., 78, who passed away on June 22, 2011 at 6:00 am at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center.
Reverend Gilbert Dutel, Pastor of St. Edmond Catholic Church, will be Celebrant of the Mass and will conduct the funeral services.
Burial will take place in Lafayette Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mr. Briggs, a resident of Lafayette, LA, was the son of the late Willard Anthony Briggs, Sr. and the former Martha Landry both of New Iberia, Louisiana. He was a member of St. Edmond Catholic Church . He served in the United States Army in France during the early 1950''s. Upon returning from the service he opened Briggs Jewelry which he operated until 1970. He then served as a department manager in retail for 26 years. After retirement he became active in growing roses and eventually helped form the Acadiana Rose Society of which he was still a member having received the Bronze Award for his service to the organization.
His hobbies included photography, clock repair and woodworking, all of which he enjoyed and was very proficient in. In recent years he maintained the web site for St. Edmond Catholic Church where he also previously served as a Lector and Eucharistic Minister.
He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Letha Savant Briggs, two daughters, Susan Briggs Smith and her husband Ron of Scott, LA and Elizabeth Briggs Bertucci and her husband Roy of Lafayette, LA; four sons, Byron Briggs and wife Terry of Milton, LA, Stephen Briggs and wife Nancy of Lake Charles, LA, Michael Briggs and wife Christy of Cecilia, LA and Robert Briggs of Lafayette, LA; eleven grandchildren, April LeBlanc and husband David, Joshua and Anthony Briggs all of Milton, LA, Jillian Briggs of Baton Rouge, Kelly Briggs of Lake Charles, LA, Sheldon, Nicholas and Kristyn Briggs, all of Cecilia, LA, Jenna and Jerod Bertucci and Ian Briggs all of Lafayette, LA; one great grandchild Jesse LeBlanc; one sister, Martha Briggs Landreneau of Lafayette, LA.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed on at Delhomme Funeral Home of Lafayette on Sunday from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm and will continue on Monday 8:00 am until the time of services. A scripture services will be held at 6:00 pm on Sunday by Deacon Paul Matte.
Pallbearers will be his godchild, Tim Savant, as well as Joshua, Anthony, Sheldon and Nicholas Briggs and also David LeBlanc. Honorary Pallbearer will be his great nephew, Sage Mouton.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to St. Edmond, St. Vincent de Paul, The Acadiana Rose Society, Msgr. Sigur Center or the UL Catholic Student Center.
Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette, LA, is in charge of funeral arrangements.
