Miriam Rivers

Miriam Lucille Rucker Rivers , 72, of 143 Douglas Street, died at Iredell Memorial Hospital on Saturday, Dec. 18, 2010, following an extended illness. She was born in Hart County, Ga., on May 27, 1938, and was the daughter of the late Willie D. and Pauline Teasley Rucker. She was twice married, first to Grover B. Oglesby, who preceded her in death and second to Leon Rivers, who survives. She was also preceded in death by a daughter, Deborah L. Oglesby; a sister, Frances Brewer; two grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. She attended school in Hart County, Ga., and was a member of Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses. Survivors include four daughters, Gloria Stevenson of Statesville, Beverly O. Adams of Hartwell, Ga., Correll (Todd) Johnson of Stony Point and Valerie Rivers of Harmony; three sons, Odis (Vallie) Oglesby of Troutman, Leon (Kim) Rivers, Jr. of Harmony, Anthony Richard (Darlyn) Rivers of Statesville; step-children, Daniel Arthur of Toccoa, Ga., Tonya (Thomas) Early and Tyrone Jolly, of Conover; two sisters, Malinda Blackwell of Statesville, and Joanne (Harry) Thronton of Hartwell, Ga.; one brother, George Rucker of Lavonia, Ga.; 21 grandchildren, including Tiffany N. Oglesby, whom she raised; 10 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Rosa (Herman) Hughes and Louise (Seaborn) McMullen; two brothers-in-law, Buford (Sandra) Oglesby of Hartwell, Ga., and Charles Oglesby of Anderson, S.C.; two special friends, Glendora Graves and Margie Conner; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. Celebration of Life Services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday, at The Mary B. Bigham Memorial Chapel of Rutledge and Bigham Funeral Home; Brother Johnny Cockerham will officiate. Members of the family will receive friends from 1:30-2 p.m., at athe funeral home. but will assemble at the residence at other times. Notes of sympathy may be emailed to the Rivers family at, Rutledgeinc@bellsouth.net. Rutledge and Bigham Mortuary, Statesville is serving the family of Mrs. Lucille Rivers