STATESBORO, Ga. -- Lois Riggs Deal, age 91, died Sunday, November 8, 2020, at Southern Manor under the care of Ogeechee Area Hospice.
She was born November 16, 1928, in Candler County to the late Dan Riggs and Shellie Mae Shelton. She was raised in Metter, Georgia, and graduated from Metter High School.
Lois married John Edwin Deal and was his faithful partner until his death.
Together they owned and operated a convenience store in the Middleground Community and later opened a store on Joe Hodges Hill. She was later employed by JC Penney in the lingerie department and was well-known and loved by her customers.
She was a faithful member of Eastern Heights Baptist Church. Her health prevented her attendance in recent years, but she loved her Sunday school friends and teachers and appreciated their love and support.
She was happiest when spending time with her family and being on the go after retirement. She especially loved spending time in Augusta with her cousin and with her brother, Jerry, and family in Edgefield, South Carolina.
Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren kept her young and active for many years.
She enjoyed watching movies, traveling, going out to eat, getting her hair and nails done and going to auctions!
She was preceded in death by her husband, John Edwin Deal; three siblings, Maude Lee Riggs, Harold Riggs and Jerry J. Riggs; and a loving nephew, Jerry “J.J.” Riggs Jr.
She is survived by her children, Bob (Lyn) Deal, Gail (Howard) NeSmith, John Edwin Deal Jr. and Craig (Sharon) Deal; grandchildren, Jay (Amy) Deal, Amy (Chad) Deal, Ginger (Jon) Willoughby, Kris (Billy) Blythe, Lauren (Matt) Rogers and Matt Deal; 10 great-grandchildren, Dillon and Bea Deal (Jay), Max and Everett Deal (Amy), Tyler and Luke Willoughby (Ginger), Finley and Sydney Blythe (Kris) and Tess and William Rogers (Lauren). She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Fran Riggs; and two nieces, Terry Riggs (Jim) Deal and Sharon “Shay” Riggs.
The service will be held on Friday, November 13, 2020, at Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home with viewing at 10 a.m. and service at 11 a.m.
Masks are required by the family and social distancing will be practiced.
Interment will be a private family gathering at Eastside Cemetery.
The family would like to express a very special thank you to Ralph Cowart and Alan Skipper for their excellent leadership and to the dedicated staff of Southern Manor. We will be forever grateful to all of you for your wonderful care and love shown to our mother and grandmother.
Memorial contributions may be made in her memory to Ogeechee Area Hospice, 200 Donehoo Street, Statesboro, Georgia 30458.
Services are streamed using Facebook Live through a private group. Only members of the group will be able to view the service. In order to view the service, log into Facebook on your phone or computer and join the group “Joiner-Anderson Live Stream” at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/jafhlive/.
Friends may sign the online register book at www.joineranderson.com.
Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home & Crematory of Statesboro is in charge of arrangements.
Statesboro Herald, November 12, 2020
She was born November 16, 1928, in Candler County to the late Dan Riggs and Shellie Mae Shelton. She was raised in Metter, Georgia, and graduated from Metter High School.
Lois married John Edwin Deal and was his faithful partner until his death.
Together they owned and operated a convenience store in the Middleground Community and later opened a store on Joe Hodges Hill. She was later employed by JC Penney in the lingerie department and was well-known and loved by her customers.
She was a faithful member of Eastern Heights Baptist Church. Her health prevented her attendance in recent years, but she loved her Sunday school friends and teachers and appreciated their love and support.
She was happiest when spending time with her family and being on the go after retirement. She especially loved spending time in Augusta with her cousin and with her brother, Jerry, and family in Edgefield, South Carolina.
Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren kept her young and active for many years.
She enjoyed watching movies, traveling, going out to eat, getting her hair and nails done and going to auctions!
She was preceded in death by her husband, John Edwin Deal; three siblings, Maude Lee Riggs, Harold Riggs and Jerry J. Riggs; and a loving nephew, Jerry “J.J.” Riggs Jr.
She is survived by her children, Bob (Lyn) Deal, Gail (Howard) NeSmith, John Edwin Deal Jr. and Craig (Sharon) Deal; grandchildren, Jay (Amy) Deal, Amy (Chad) Deal, Ginger (Jon) Willoughby, Kris (Billy) Blythe, Lauren (Matt) Rogers and Matt Deal; 10 great-grandchildren, Dillon and Bea Deal (Jay), Max and Everett Deal (Amy), Tyler and Luke Willoughby (Ginger), Finley and Sydney Blythe (Kris) and Tess and William Rogers (Lauren). She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Fran Riggs; and two nieces, Terry Riggs (Jim) Deal and Sharon “Shay” Riggs.
The service will be held on Friday, November 13, 2020, at Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home with viewing at 10 a.m. and service at 11 a.m.
Masks are required by the family and social distancing will be practiced.
Interment will be a private family gathering at Eastside Cemetery.
The family would like to express a very special thank you to Ralph Cowart and Alan Skipper for their excellent leadership and to the dedicated staff of Southern Manor. We will be forever grateful to all of you for your wonderful care and love shown to our mother and grandmother.
Memorial contributions may be made in her memory to Ogeechee Area Hospice, 200 Donehoo Street, Statesboro, Georgia 30458.
Services are streamed using Facebook Live through a private group. Only members of the group will be able to view the service. In order to view the service, log into Facebook on your phone or computer and join the group “Joiner-Anderson Live Stream” at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/jafhlive/.
Friends may sign the online register book at www.joineranderson.com.
Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home & Crematory of Statesboro is in charge of arrangements.
Statesboro Herald, November 12, 2020
Sign the Legacy online guestbook at www.statesboroherald.com.