A Celebration of Life service for John Robert Briggs, 79, of Mt. Airy, will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec.23, at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church. The Rev. Josh Taylor, the Rev. Terry Rice and Dr. Charles Holland will officiate with interment to follow the service in Yonah Memorial Gardens. Join us in celebrating a life well lived.
Mr. Briggs is healed and in the arms of Jesus. John passed away Dec. 20, 2021, due to an extended illness. Just like he dealt with all experiences in life, John managed his illness with strength, dignity, and grace, and wanted to spend as much time with his loved ones as possible. On his last days, John was surrounded by his loving wife, daughters, sons-in-law, grandsons, identical twin brother, and granddogs who adored him more than anything else in the world.
Born Aug. 25, 1942, in Cornelia, he was the son of the late P.Y. and Catherine Briggs. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Glenn Briggs.
For much of his life, John grew up in Habersham County. Johnny, as his friends and family called him, was a veteran of the United States Navy and served aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise during the Vietnam War. He retired from the United States Postal Service in Gainesville after over 32 years of service where he was loved by everyone on his mail route.
Johnny enjoyed sharing his love for Jesus Christ with others as well as spending time with his family and watching the Atlanta Braves and the University of Georgia football with his grandsons. He loved fishing, and spending time at the beach with his beloved wife, Sandra. Johnny was a deacon and member of Mt. Carmel Baptist Church of Demorest. Everyone who knew Johnny knew that in addition to always being on top of things, he was extremely kind and generous.
John is survived by his wife of 53 years, Sandra Loudermilk Briggs, and their two daughters and sons-in-law, Kelly and Mitch Williams of Cleveland and Michelle and Keith Howell of Braselton; mother-in-law, Elizabeth Loudermilk of Mt. Airy; grandchildren, Matthew Chitwood of Cleveland and Jonathan and Peyton Howell of Braselton; identical twin brother, Jimmy Briggs (Brenda) of Waterloo, South Carolina; sisters-in-law, Barbara Dalton of Mt. Airy, Joy Wilbanks (Marshal) of Toccoa, and Gail Asato of Aiea, Hawaii; brother-in-law, Jerry Loudermilk (Shirley) of Cornelia; granddogs, Sophie and Georgia; as well as a large extended family and friends.
The family would like to thank the hospice team who became like family while Johnny was under hospice care. The team included Beth, Alan, Bobbie, Judy, Heather, and Selena.
A visitation is planned for Wednesday, Dec. 22, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Hillside Memorial Chapel.
An online guest book is available for the family by visiting hillsidememorialchapel.com.
Funeral arrangements by Hillside Memorial Chapel & Gardens, Clarkesville.