James Lawrence Briggs, Sr., died Saturday, June 1, 2002 at Mt. Diablo Medical Center, in Concord. A resident of Pittsburg for 58 years, he was 68 years old. James was born on January 11, 1934 in Dallas, Texas. He was the first child of the late George Briggs and Ruth Smith. The family relocated to Pittsburg, California in 1944. While in high school, he lettered in three sports: track, basketball and football. In the early 1950's, 'Jimmy' was one of the fastest men in the United States in the half miler race, winning the state championship in 1951. He graduated from Pittsburg High School in 1952.
He volunteered to serve in the U.S. Army from 1954 to 1956. He graduated from Diablo Valley College and attended Arizona State University on a track scholarship.
On March 16, 1958, James was united in marriage with Frances Elizabeth Brown of Oakland, California. They had seven children. James accepted Christ as his savior at age five. He recently rededicated his life to God. He was a devoted father, grandfather, loving husband and dedicated friend. His life was centered around his wife, children and 12 grandchildren.
He was employed by Johns-Mansville, later as a construction worker and finally as a deputy sheriff with the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Department for 20 years until his retirement. James was one of the founding members of the Black Deputies Association for Better Community Relations. He also volunteered as a Little League baseball coach in Pittsburg for 28 years. In addition to coaching, James also enjoyed making personalized baseball cards to give away as gifts. He truly loved people and people loved him.
Thanking God for his life is his wife, Frances Brown Briggs; children: Elizabeth Thomas (spouse James), John Briggs (spouse Frances), Frances Briggs, Veronika Briggs, James Briggs II, Beverly Brice (spouse Darryl). His twelve grandchildren, a host of nieces and nephews, his brother Frank Briggs of Pittsburg, brother-in-law James Brown, and devoted friend Nelson Barnett of Reno, Nevada. Preceding him in death were his parents George Briggs and Ruth Smith and his daughter, Mary Elizabeth Briggs.
Published in Contra Costa Times on June 6, 2002 -
He volunteered to serve in the U.S. Army from 1954 to 1956. He graduated from Diablo Valley College and attended Arizona State University on a track scholarship.
On March 16, 1958, James was united in marriage with Frances Elizabeth Brown of Oakland, California. They had seven children. James accepted Christ as his savior at age five. He recently rededicated his life to God. He was a devoted father, grandfather, loving husband and dedicated friend. His life was centered around his wife, children and 12 grandchildren.
He was employed by Johns-Mansville, later as a construction worker and finally as a deputy sheriff with the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Department for 20 years until his retirement. James was one of the founding members of the Black Deputies Association for Better Community Relations. He also volunteered as a Little League baseball coach in Pittsburg for 28 years. In addition to coaching, James also enjoyed making personalized baseball cards to give away as gifts. He truly loved people and people loved him.
Thanking God for his life is his wife, Frances Brown Briggs; children: Elizabeth Thomas (spouse James), John Briggs (spouse Frances), Frances Briggs, Veronika Briggs, James Briggs II, Beverly Brice (spouse Darryl). His twelve grandchildren, a host of nieces and nephews, his brother Frank Briggs of Pittsburg, brother-in-law James Brown, and devoted friend Nelson Barnett of Reno, Nevada. Preceding him in death were his parents George Briggs and Ruth Smith and his daughter, Mary Elizabeth Briggs.
Published in Contra Costa Times on June 6, 2002 -
James Lawrence Briggs, Sr., died Saturday, June 1, 2002 at Mt. Diablo Medical Center, in Concord. A resident of Pittsburg for 58 years, he was 68 years old. James was born on January 11, 1934 in Dallas, Texas. He was the first child of the late George Briggs and Ruth Smith. The family relocated to Pittsburg, California in 1944. While in high school, he lettered in three sports: track, basketball and football. In the early 1950's, 'Jimmy' was one of the fastest men in the United States in the half miler race, winning the state championship in 1951. He graduated from Pittsburg High School in 1952.
He volunteered to serve in the U.S. Army from 1954 to 1956. He graduated from Diablo Valley College and attended Arizona State University on a track scholarship.
On March 16, 1958, James was united in marriage with Frances Elizabeth Brown of Oakland, California. They had seven children. James accepted Christ as his savior at age five. He recently rededicated his life to God. He was a devoted father, grandfather, loving husband and dedicated friend. His life was centered around his wife, children and 12 grandchildren.
He was employed by Johns-Mansville, later as a construction worker and finally as a deputy sheriff with the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Department for 20 years until his retirement. James was one of the founding members of the Black Deputies Association for Better Community Relations. He also volunteered as a Little League baseball coach in Pittsburg for 28 years. In addition to coaching, James also enjoyed making personalized baseball cards to give away as gifts. He truly loved people and people loved him.
Thanking God for his life is his wife, Frances Brown Briggs; children: Elizabeth Thomas (spouse James), John Briggs (spouse Frances), Frances Briggs, Veronika Briggs, James Briggs II, Beverly Brice (spouse Darryl). His twelve grandchildren, a host of nieces and nephews, his brother Frank Briggs of Pittsburg, brother-in-law James Brown, and devoted friend Nelson Barnett of Reno, Nevada. Preceding him in death were his parents George Briggs and Ruth Smith and his daughter, Mary Elizabeth Briggs.
Published in Contra Costa Times on June 6, 2002 -
He volunteered to serve in the U.S. Army from 1954 to 1956. He graduated from Diablo Valley College and attended Arizona State University on a track scholarship.
On March 16, 1958, James was united in marriage with Frances Elizabeth Brown of Oakland, California. They had seven children. James accepted Christ as his savior at age five. He recently rededicated his life to God. He was a devoted father, grandfather, loving husband and dedicated friend. His life was centered around his wife, children and 12 grandchildren.
He was employed by Johns-Mansville, later as a construction worker and finally as a deputy sheriff with the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Department for 20 years until his retirement. James was one of the founding members of the Black Deputies Association for Better Community Relations. He also volunteered as a Little League baseball coach in Pittsburg for 28 years. In addition to coaching, James also enjoyed making personalized baseball cards to give away as gifts. He truly loved people and people loved him.
Thanking God for his life is his wife, Frances Brown Briggs; children: Elizabeth Thomas (spouse James), John Briggs (spouse Frances), Frances Briggs, Veronika Briggs, James Briggs II, Beverly Brice (spouse Darryl). His twelve grandchildren, a host of nieces and nephews, his brother Frank Briggs of Pittsburg, brother-in-law James Brown, and devoted friend Nelson Barnett of Reno, Nevada. Preceding him in death were his parents George Briggs and Ruth Smith and his daughter, Mary Elizabeth Briggs.
Published in Contra Costa Times on June 6, 2002 -
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