Mr. William E. “Chester” Higgs, Sr., 73, of Vidalia died Sunday morning, April 15, 2012 at the Community Hospice of Vidalia following an extended illness.
Mr. Higgs was born to the late Jack and Lucille Phillips Higgs, on March 16, 1939 in their family home, on Harden’s Chapel Road in Lyons, Ga. His family moved to Jacksonville, FL, where he graduated from Andrew Jackson High School in 1957. He delivered papers as a youth and was the first bag-boy in the Winn Dixie Store. Mr. Higgs went from bag-boy to manager of the meat department and on to being the actual store manager. In June of 1957 he joined the Army National Guard and went to boot camp. With his previous good record in his work, he was assigned to the Military Police where he worked for six months. He had an honorable discharge in December of 1957. Mr. Higgs then became a paper maker for 28 years with Regis Paper Co. When the paper mill closed, he traveled to various places and discovered that Ohio and snow was too much for a Georgia Boy. In 1985 he moved to Zachary Louisiana and worked with the Port Hudson Paper Mill until retirement in 1989. After retiring, he moved back to Jacksonville Florida and then moved to God’s Country, Vidalia GA, where he lived his remaining years. He traveled to 14 different states to see Reba McIntyre in concert. He enjoyed rodeos, rattlesnake roundups, and everything outdoors. He was a faithful follower for the Atlanta Braves and Georgia Bulldogs. His favorite pass time was spending time with his family and grandchildren. Since his home church, Sharpe’s Chapel United Methodist church, had only one service a week, he bonded with the First United Methodist Church in Lyons, for Sunday evening and Wednesday night worships. He was a prayer worrier for all.
Survivors include one son, William Edward (Billy) Higgs, Jr. of Vidalia, one daughter and son-in-law, Angie Higgs Christy (Mike), of Callahan, FL, six grandchildren, Jeramy, Austin, Justin, Emalee, Brittany, and Christian, one brother, Bobby Jack Higgs (Pat) of Jacksonville, FL, two special Aunts, Mrs. Myrtle Mayes (Margaret), and Mrs. Billie Jones, both of Lyons, his surrogate mother, Ethleen Riner of Lyons, three special cousins, Delaine Moseley of Lyons, Gail Edenfield of Lyons and Vicki Connell of Statesboro, several nieces and nephews and his prodigal son and daughter, Steve and Donna McKee also survive.
Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, April 18, at 3:00 p.m., from the First United Methodist Church of Lyons, with Reverends Lee Pulliam, Bobby Gale, and Dr. Max Hill officiating. Visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m. until time of service. Burial will follow at the Odom Cemetery in Lyons.
Pallbearers will be Peyton Edenfield, Tyler Edenfield, Luke Connell, Dorsey Hart, Dave Campbell and Darel Corley.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in memory of William Edward “Chester” Higgs, Sr. 1702 Sharon Dr. N.E., Vidalia GA, 30474.
Condolences may be expressed at www.chapmanfhofswainsboro.com
Chapman Funeral Home of Swainsboro is in charge of the arrangements for the funeral of Mr. William Edward “Chester” Higgs, Sr., 73, of Vidalia.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of William Edward "Chester" Higgs, Sr., please visit our flower store.
Mr. Higgs was born to the late Jack and Lucille Phillips Higgs, on March 16, 1939 in their family home, on Harden’s Chapel Road in Lyons, Ga. His family moved to Jacksonville, FL, where he graduated from Andrew Jackson High School in 1957. He delivered papers as a youth and was the first bag-boy in the Winn Dixie Store. Mr. Higgs went from bag-boy to manager of the meat department and on to being the actual store manager. In June of 1957 he joined the Army National Guard and went to boot camp. With his previous good record in his work, he was assigned to the Military Police where he worked for six months. He had an honorable discharge in December of 1957. Mr. Higgs then became a paper maker for 28 years with Regis Paper Co. When the paper mill closed, he traveled to various places and discovered that Ohio and snow was too much for a Georgia Boy. In 1985 he moved to Zachary Louisiana and worked with the Port Hudson Paper Mill until retirement in 1989. After retiring, he moved back to Jacksonville Florida and then moved to God’s Country, Vidalia GA, where he lived his remaining years. He traveled to 14 different states to see Reba McIntyre in concert. He enjoyed rodeos, rattlesnake roundups, and everything outdoors. He was a faithful follower for the Atlanta Braves and Georgia Bulldogs. His favorite pass time was spending time with his family and grandchildren. Since his home church, Sharpe’s Chapel United Methodist church, had only one service a week, he bonded with the First United Methodist Church in Lyons, for Sunday evening and Wednesday night worships. He was a prayer worrier for all.
Survivors include one son, William Edward (Billy) Higgs, Jr. of Vidalia, one daughter and son-in-law, Angie Higgs Christy (Mike), of Callahan, FL, six grandchildren, Jeramy, Austin, Justin, Emalee, Brittany, and Christian, one brother, Bobby Jack Higgs (Pat) of Jacksonville, FL, two special Aunts, Mrs. Myrtle Mayes (Margaret), and Mrs. Billie Jones, both of Lyons, his surrogate mother, Ethleen Riner of Lyons, three special cousins, Delaine Moseley of Lyons, Gail Edenfield of Lyons and Vicki Connell of Statesboro, several nieces and nephews and his prodigal son and daughter, Steve and Donna McKee also survive.
Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, April 18, at 3:00 p.m., from the First United Methodist Church of Lyons, with Reverends Lee Pulliam, Bobby Gale, and Dr. Max Hill officiating. Visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m. until time of service. Burial will follow at the Odom Cemetery in Lyons.
Pallbearers will be Peyton Edenfield, Tyler Edenfield, Luke Connell, Dorsey Hart, Dave Campbell and Darel Corley.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in memory of William Edward “Chester” Higgs, Sr. 1702 Sharon Dr. N.E., Vidalia GA, 30474.
Condolences may be expressed at www.chapmanfhofswainsboro.com
Chapman Funeral Home of Swainsboro is in charge of the arrangements for the funeral of Mr. William Edward “Chester” Higgs, Sr., 73, of Vidalia.