Carrie Lee Lemon Briggs
Carrie Lee Lemon Briggs, 99, wife of Oscar Briggs and widow of Ben Lemon Sr., died Thursday, Aug. 23, 2012, at her residence in Manning. She was born Feb. 6, 1913, in the Sammie Swamp Section of Clarendon County. She’s the daughter of the late Johnny Williams and Minnie Sweat Williams. She was preceded in death by 10 siblings, Beka, Mabell, Bertha, Rita, Lavina, Dessie, Elam, Edward, John Wesley, and Little John.
She received her formal education under the tutelage of the late Theola Miles in the Paxville community. Being reared in a Christian home, at an early age she accepted Christ and joined Zion Hill Baptist Church where she served faithfully as an usher, member of the gospel choir, and anywhere she was needed. She also served as Mother of the church.
Carrie Lee was joined in matrimony to the late Ben Lemon Sr. in 1934 and was blessed with 12 children. Eight children preceded her in death, Ben Jr., Levi, Willie Albert, Erving, Thelma, Sadie, Lillie Ann, and Minnie. She was then joined in holy wedlock to Oscar Briggs Sr. in 1983.
Ms. Carrie Lee, as she was affectionately called, was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. Not only did she mother her own, but the community as well. She was an avid seamstress and she loved any household project that involved the use of her hands. She possessed a fun and witty personality that would light up a room with laughter.
She leaves to cherish her precious memories, her husband, Oscar Briggs Sr.; her loving and devoted children, Laura Daney, Baltimore, Md., James Lee Lemon, Lester Lemon Sr., and Sarah (Leroy) Conyers, all of Manning; four grandchildren she reared as her own, Carrie Ann Lemon, Anthony (Stella) Lemon, both of Baltimore Md., Marion (Diane) Lemon, Columbia, and Michael (Juliette), Chesapeake, Va. and four stepchildren; two additional daughters-in-law, Deloris Lemon, Manning, and Alma Lemon, Baltimore, Md.; two additional son-in-laws, Robert Tomlin and Richard Bradley, both of Baltimore, Md.; a devoted care taker, Lil Blackwell; several brothers and sisters-in-law; a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
The celebratory services for Mrs. Carrie Lee Williams Lemon Briggs will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2012, at Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church, Paxville, with Pastor Clifford Gaymon, officiating. Burial will follow in the Calvary-Zion Cemetery, Pinewood. Mrs. Briggs will lie in repose one hour prior to funeral time.
The family is receiving friends at the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Sarah Ann and Leroy “Teek” Conyers, 704 West Huggins Street, Manning.
