ANNPAIGE M.K. RIGGINS

AnnPaige Melvina Kizzie Riggins was born to the late Rev. Henry T. and Eleanor B. Kizzie on October 1, 1940, in Mecklenburg, Va. She peacefully departed this life on Sunday, June 12, 2016, at Southside Regional Medical Center in Petersburg, Va. She was surrounded by her loving family which included her children, grandchildren, sisters, nieces and nephews. Her first-born, Gregory, was at her side when she took her last breath. She spiritually talked to her sister Zelma throughout the day as she waited patiently on the Lord. She fought the good fight before her spirit ascended to her rightful home with the Lord to receive her robe and crown.

Today we celebrate the life of a remarkable God fearing woman. Ann was a loving daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend to many. She is loved and will be missed by all who knew her. Our mother was a praying woman. She loved the Lord and her family, a trait - instilling love - she learned from and is attributed to her parents. Something her father said they would do as a family is love one another. That lesson of love shaped Ann's personality and allowed her to treat others in her life as valued human beings, regardless of their flaws. This follows a great lesson that Jesus taught his disciples and certainly a lesson worth teaching. She was strong willed, but gentle; stern but loving, and did not hesitate to speak her mind, even when you may not have wanted to hear what she had to say. Her advice always came from a place of love because she always wanted the best for those she knew and loved.

Her very own father, Rev. Henry T. Kizzie married Ann and Hercules "Herk" Riggins on December 23, 1957, in Petersburg, Va. Ann and Herk moved to Washington, DC and their union lasted 46 years until Herk's death in 2003. She was a sister-in-law to Richard Ragin (Colleen) of Detroit, Mich., and John Ragin (Jessie) of Akron, Ohio, and the late George Ragin (Nancy) of Florida, Phyfine Whaley of New York, and Dorothy Mae James (Lucious) of South Carolina; and a loving aunt to a host of nieces and nephews. In 2006 she returned home to Petersburg, Va.

Prior to her return home to Petersburg, Ann retired from Howard University Hospital. She was also baptized at The 16th and Decatur Street Church of Christ in Washington, DC. Upon returning to Petersburg, she became an active and devoted member of Royal Baptist Church where she was honored to serve in the capacity of President of the Senior Ministry. She was a good servant of the church and student of the Bible.

Ann loved spending time with her family in Virginia Beach, Washington, DC and Petersburg, Va. She especially loved to travel on family vacations stateside and abroad. She also enjoyed trips with her friends for social activities. She was a great cook and enjoyed playing Solitaire on her computer. Shortly after returning to Petersburg, Ann and her sister Patricia decided to enroll in an entry level computer course. We were so proud of her successful completion. She even had an email account to keep up with family events and receive photos of her grandchildren. She also learned to search the internet and work her cell phone. It is well known that she was a great cook and you probably think she learned that from her mother. Actually, it was her husband that taught her how to cook and she ultimately became the better cook. They cooked with love and loved to literally watch people eat, because they took pride in what they cooked and wanted to make sure you enjoyed it.

Although, Ann herself gave birth to four children; she was like a mother to many others. Herk and Ann opened their homes over the years to many people, creating a beautiful extended family that spans over 50 years. This extended family was and continues to be a blessing to her children. Many of you know them as Eddie Chambliss, Carlos Chambliss, Anthony and Denise Chambliss and Porferio Chambliss; Cecil Houston, Stanley Houston, Henry Gaither, Benjamin T. Brown, Barbara Banks and Bernardine Colbert, one of Ann's dearest friends and a second mother to her children. They loved and trusted this "family" of friends with their lives and the lives of their children.

We have so much to be thankful for today as we bid our final farewell to Ann. So let's celebrate her life and the legacy she leaves behind. We can rejoice today because she lived a good life; a life filled with family and friends that surrounded her with love, love that was reciprocated by her.

Ann was preceded in death by her husband, Hercules Riggins; her daughter, Erica Lorraine Riggins; four sisters, Adele Batten, Mary Zelma Hoosier, Martha Rebecca Barnes, Patricia Ward; and two brothers, Henry T. Kizzie, Jr. and James Kizzie.

Loving memories of Ann will be cherished by her children; Gregory O'Neil Riggins (Carla) of Virginia Beach, Va., Kenneth Jenardo Riggins, Sr.; and her daughter, Lynne Herchelle Riggins-Person (Joseph) of Washington, DC; seven grandchildren; Kimberly Leach (Cory) of Ackworth, Georgia, Gabrielle Alexis Monique Riggins of Virginia Beach, Kenneth Jenardo Riggins, Jr., of Washington, DC, Jordan Alana Erica Riggins of Virginia Beach, Va., Aaron Gregory O'Neil Riggins of Virginia Beach, Va., Noah Alexander Person and Nicholas Alexander Person of Washington, DC; four great-grandchildren, Mikayla Riggins, Ariana Leach and Ava Leach of Ackworth, Georgia, and Jayden Royals of Virginia Beach, Va.

A special thank you from her children to her sisters, nieces and nephews in Petersburg, who loved and cared for her when we could not be there. A heartfelt and sincere thank you to her sister, Audrey Johnson, nephew Gary "Monty" Hoosier, and daughter-in-law Carla Yvette Riggins. Your dedication to our mother is priceless.

Services will be held 11 a.m. Monday, June 20, 2016, at Royal Baptist Church, 316 St. Mark Street, Petersburg, Va., Rev. Dr. Phillip Williams, pastor. Interment Quantico National Cemetery.

Family members and friends are invited to pay final tribute to Mrs. Riggins at www.jmwilkersonsince1874.com.

Funeral arrangements entrusted to the staff of J.M. Wilkerson Funeral Establishment, Inc., 102 South Avenue, Petersburg, Va., (804) 732-8911, www.jmwilkersonsince1874.com.