Bruce E. Briggs
August 14, 1952 ~ October 24, 2005
Resided in:
Midland, NC
Bruce Edward Briggs, 53, of 1950 Ramble Road, Midland, NC, went to be with the Lord Monday, October 24, 2005.
Mr. Briggs was born in Buncombe County and was a son of Martha Marlowe Godley of Charlotte and the late John Logan Briggs. He was a self-employed contractor and a member of Hamilton Crossroad
Baptist Church.
Bruce was a strong Christian who participated in 87 mission trips to Nicaragua and Guatemala. He shared his love for fishing with friends and relatives in Fishers of Men, a Christian-based association of bass fishermen.
In addition to his mother he is survived by his wife Sharon Hamilton Briggs; one son Josh Briggs of Boone; three step-children; one sister, Beverly Newsome and her husband Mike of Weddington, NC; one brother, Roger Briggs and his wife Beth of Guatemala; four nieces and two nephews.
Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. Friday at Nesbitt’s Chapel United Methodist Church with the Revs. Ron Coffer and Jeff Smith officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
His family will receive friends from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue, Asheville, and at other times will be at the home of Shirley Marlowe, 1204 Garren Creek Road, Fairview.
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We did not know Mr. Briggs, but are sure that was our loss, but go to church with his cousins Debra Taylor and Diana Hensley. We think the world of them. Just want you to know you are in our prayers and thoughts. God will give you peace.
My thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. May God comfort you and may your wonderful memories of Bruce give you peace. There are so many things in this life we don’t understand, but one day we will meet again and all of our questions will be answered and we’ll walk the streets of gold together.
Love,
Linda Craig
Sharon,
We are so sorry for your loss. We know this came so unexpectedly. Please know you are in our thoughts and prayers.
Martha, Roger, Beverly, and family, You are in my thoughts and prayers. I am so sorry for your loss. Bruce is now together with our blessed Lord and Judy. I am grateful we will see our love ones again. I love you all, Janet Maynor
Sharon and family: We are so saddened to hear of your loss. Bruce will be greatly missed.You are in our every thought and prayer. Love in Christ.
I am praying for you in your time of grief. Remember that you are not alone in your troubles. Jesus is very near to you! He is a Friend who cares and understands all about what you are going through. When thou passeth through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thy walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. Isaiah 43:2
Martha, Roger, Beth, Beverly, Mike, Josh, Sharon, Anita, Brent and Marlowe/Briggs families: We loved Bruce’s sense of humor, his tender caring and the priviledge of being introduced to Ministries Of His Glory and Ron and Donna Coffer in Guatemala. What a challenge to all of us-to touch so many lives for the Lord. Our love and prayers are with you now. -Psalm 27:14-
O.J. and Lisa Gilstrap, Las Vegas Nevada
Our thoughts and prayers and with the family during this time. Bruce was loved by all and we here at Byrums will truly miss his smiling face!
Roger Briggs & Family,
What a small world we found it to be, after being led by Bruce to Nicaragua though our church, we then get to meet you, Roger, this summer and enjoy a couple months playing ball. We were so shocked to have just come back from Nicaragua Friday, and find out a few days later of Bruce’s passing. Everything is done in God’s timing and for His glory, only for us to realize the meaning later. I count your family as blessings to ours, and we are praying for your comfort during this time.
Jennifer and Stacy Cooper
Sharon,
We were so sorry to heard about Bruce. Please know that you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers. I am so sorry that we cannot be at the service, but you will be in our hearts.
Love,
Karon and Johnny
My thoughts and prayers are of course with Sharon, my aunt whom I love very much and to the family of Bruce. I never had the chance to meet him but he must have been pretty special for Sharon to love him the way that she does. I’m glad that she got to spend the time that she did with him as I know these memories will be with her forever.
Dear Sharon,
I am a witness to all that Bruce gave of himself in Nicaragua. I will never forget the first time you came down with him before you were married. As you sat and gave your sweet testimony on the patio in Managua with tears of joy streaming down your face, I was so touched. I know you cry tears of sorrow now at his loss, but remember that soon and very soon Jesus will wipe every tear from your eyes. Let Jesus comfort you now with His Holy Spirit as you rest in the everlasting arms of the Father. You are in my prayers.
Barbara Caudle
Bruce was a contractor who became a friend. He will be greatly missed. He lived his life as he lived his faith. The world was better for Bruce Briggs.
Ten years ago, Bruce led a mission construction team from Pleasant Plains Baptist Church, Matthews, NC, to Fellowship Baptist Church in Princeton, WV, and changed our lives. That team helped us build a new building for Sunday School rooms and a fellowship hall. Then Bruce invited us to Guatemala to meet Ron and Donna Cofer and Ministries of His Glory. Since that time, many of the members of our church have been involved in mission trips to Guatemala and Nicaragua. Our own mission organization, Heaven Sent Ministries, and feeding program, Food For Children, are also harvests from the seed that Bruce planted in West Virginia in 1995. We are deeply saddened by his death, but excited that Bruce may already be right beside Jesus ‘preparing a place’ for one of us. I can’t imagine him in heaven sitting still.
Sharon, There are no words that express my sadness for you. I was fortunate to witness that once in a lifetime love that you & Bruce (amighty) shared. It did & still does encourge my heart at just the thought of what I witnessed between ya’ll. I will never ever forget your husband or the way he loved the Lord and you. I love you girl!!
We are members at Pleasant Plains Baptist Church and would just like to let you know that our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Martha, Roger, Beverly & family – I just heard today from my sister of Bruce’s passing. Words seem so inadequate to comfort you in the loss of such a loving, Christian man. Yet, as you well know, God’s love wordlessly comforts those of us left behind, even as that same love welcomes Bruce into the Church Triumphant. Jan and I shared so many memories of Bruce as the buoyant, spirited young man we knew as children in church for so many years. We continue to thank God for Martha and John’s dedicated work in the church and with the youth that made such a difference in our lives and the lives of so many others. Clearly, from the comments of current friends, Christian service and commitment to sharing God’s love was not only taught early by parents, but lives in the Briggs children and those they touch. Bruce’s bright eyes and beautiful smile will be greatly missed here, but the wonderful spirit of the boy and the man will brighten Heaven and light the way for us there, as he did here.
Our thoughts and prayers are with friends and family of Bruce. We were privileged to serve with Bruce on trips to Nicaragua. We came to love him and will miss him greatly. We know he is with the Lord and having a wonderful time.
Beverly, Roger, and Mrs. Martha, and all family members, Darryl and I send you our love and prayers at this time. We love you and pray for peace for you all in all decisions you are having to make. Please remember the ‘glory’ in all of this pain and have comfort in knowing that Bruce is in the comforting arms of our Lord. We love you and are lifting you all up in prayer. We’ll see you Friday. Love, Jill Ammons
Dear Sharon, Please know that you are in our every thought and prayer.
Briggs Family,
Sharon, Anita, Jennifer and Brent,
You all in our every thought and prayer. We pray for God to comfort each of you.
Martha, Roger, Beverly, Josh, Beth, Mike, and family, We are so sorry for your loss of Bruce. Heaven just keeps getting sweeter as more of our family gather there. We are praying that the Holy Spirit graciously comfort and sustain each of you. He truly gives the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. It’s wonderful to know we serve a constant, abiding Saviour who promises to give you the added grace for this valley. Love and prayers,
Bruce Briggs Family,
I went with Bruce on a few trips to Central America and it changed my life, but mostly because of Bruce. He help me believe in Phil 4:13 and grow as a Christian. I know how hard losing Bruce is for me, I am weeping. Your pain and agony must be tremendous, but your faith in God will get you through. My condolences to all. I’m sure Bruce has a building project awaiting for me when I get there.
May God Bless
George Luthe
Sharon and Family,
You are so very much in my prayers.
God will be your comfort through it
all. Love in Christ.
Beverly, Mike, Logan and Jordan,
We wanted to let you know that our hearts are with you all. We are sad for your loss and we pray that you can be comforted knowing that Bruce is now with the ultimate fisherman. We will be thinking of you as you go through saying goodbye and dealing with such an unexpected loss.
Much love to you all,
Gwen, Trey, Maggie,
Sarah and Grace Brower
I play softball with Kathy Marlowe.Kathy, I have prayed for your family tonight after learning that your relative passed away. What an awesome testimony in the arbituary. He and Jesues are sharing fishes and loaves together now!!Looking forward, Kelly Williams
Sharon and family, you are all in our thoughts and prayers. May our Lord put his loving arms around you to hold you and support you through these difficult times.