Obituary for Maxine Briggs (Humphrey)
Maxine Humphrey Briggs, age 97, passed away Wednesday, January 11, 2023 at Elderberry Health Care Center where she had been a resident for the past 7 ½ years.
Maxine was born October 18, 1925, in Madison, Florida to the late William Leslie and Etha Flowers Humphrey. She moved to Greeneville, TN as a young girl where she graduated from Camp Creek High School. After graduation, her first job was in Washington, D.C. doing clerical work for the FBI during World War II. She moved to Madison County, NC after the war where she met and married her husband of 68 years, James W. Briggs who passed away October 9, 2014.
Throughout her younger years she worked in numerous retail stores in Marshall. She was also manager of Shady Side Florist and later owned and operated Maxine’s Florist. She finally retired, well into her eighties, after working many years at Mt. Sheba Thrift Store.
Maxine was a people person who never met a stranger. She enjoyed singing, eating chocolate, celebrating Christmas and all the baking, shopping, and decorating that came with it, pulling pranks, taking dares and showing her grandchildren how she could still dance the Charleston, even in her mid-eighties. In her nineties, her ability to move so quickly in her wheelchair earned her the nickname, “Lightnin” at Elderberry.
Maxine was a member of Mt. Sheba Baptist Church where she loved to attend church and sing in the choir until she began to experience declining health.
Surviving are her children, Pamela Gosnell of Greeneville, TN, Deborah Buckner and husband Ronnie, Marla Gouge and husband Donnie and James L. Briggs, all of Marshall; grandchildren, Stephanie and Regena Gosnell and Leslie Greenier and fiancé Kevin, Rev Brian Buckner and wife Shelley, Amy Cody and husband Ryan, Brandon Buckner and wife Cassandra, Tyler Gouge and wife Tabitha; and 14 great grandchildren, Aston and Kaylea Greenier, Isaac, Leah, Alex, Ellie and Ethan Buckner, Emory, Eli, and Grayson Cody, Trenton and Lexie Griffey and Bo, Everly, and Lennox Gouge and Maddox Gouge to be born in May. She is also survived by brother in law, Harvey Briggs and wife Alma; sisters in law, Christine Motz Betty Rigsby and Jane Briggs as well as many special nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents and husband she was preceded in death by her granddaughter, Jessica Griffey, and great granddaughter, Kyiah Lynn; brother, Lester E. Humphrey; sister, Wilma H. Kelley; son in law, Bruce Gosnell. She was also preceded in death by her stepfather, Wheaton McClure and a number of brothers in law and sisters in law who were very dear to her.
The family wishes to thank the staff and management of Elderberry Health Care for all the kindness and care that was given to Maxine during her stay there.
A funeral service will be held at 2pm Sunday, January 15, 2023, at Mt. Sheba Baptist Church. Reverends Steve Rhinehart, Brian Buckner and Isaac Buckner will officiate. The burial will follow in the Tillery Cemetery, Marshall. No visitation is planned.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: The Gideons International Madison County Camp P.O. Box 1182, Marshall, NC 28753 or go to https://www.gideons.org/donate.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blueridgefuneralservice.org.
Maxine was born October 18, 1925, in Madison, Florida to the late William Leslie and Etha Flowers Humphrey. She moved to Greeneville, TN as a young girl where she graduated from Camp Creek High School. After graduation, her first job was in Washington, D.C. doing clerical work for the FBI during World War II. She moved to Madison County, NC after the war where she met and married her husband of 68 years, James W. Briggs who passed away October 9, 2014.
Throughout her younger years she worked in numerous retail stores in Marshall. She was also manager of Shady Side Florist and later owned and operated Maxine’s Florist. She finally retired, well into her eighties, after working many years at Mt. Sheba Thrift Store.
Maxine was a people person who never met a stranger. She enjoyed singing, eating chocolate, celebrating Christmas and all the baking, shopping, and decorating that came with it, pulling pranks, taking dares and showing her grandchildren how she could still dance the Charleston, even in her mid-eighties. In her nineties, her ability to move so quickly in her wheelchair earned her the nickname, “Lightnin” at Elderberry.
Maxine was a member of Mt. Sheba Baptist Church where she loved to attend church and sing in the choir until she began to experience declining health.
Surviving are her children, Pamela Gosnell of Greeneville, TN, Deborah Buckner and husband Ronnie, Marla Gouge and husband Donnie and James L. Briggs, all of Marshall; grandchildren, Stephanie and Regena Gosnell and Leslie Greenier and fiancé Kevin, Rev Brian Buckner and wife Shelley, Amy Cody and husband Ryan, Brandon Buckner and wife Cassandra, Tyler Gouge and wife Tabitha; and 14 great grandchildren, Aston and Kaylea Greenier, Isaac, Leah, Alex, Ellie and Ethan Buckner, Emory, Eli, and Grayson Cody, Trenton and Lexie Griffey and Bo, Everly, and Lennox Gouge and Maddox Gouge to be born in May. She is also survived by brother in law, Harvey Briggs and wife Alma; sisters in law, Christine Motz Betty Rigsby and Jane Briggs as well as many special nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents and husband she was preceded in death by her granddaughter, Jessica Griffey, and great granddaughter, Kyiah Lynn; brother, Lester E. Humphrey; sister, Wilma H. Kelley; son in law, Bruce Gosnell. She was also preceded in death by her stepfather, Wheaton McClure and a number of brothers in law and sisters in law who were very dear to her.
The family wishes to thank the staff and management of Elderberry Health Care for all the kindness and care that was given to Maxine during her stay there.
A funeral service will be held at 2pm Sunday, January 15, 2023, at Mt. Sheba Baptist Church. Reverends Steve Rhinehart, Brian Buckner and Isaac Buckner will officiate. The burial will follow in the Tillery Cemetery, Marshall. No visitation is planned.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: The Gideons International Madison County Camp P.O. Box 1182, Marshall, NC 28753 or go to https://www.gideons.org/donate.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blueridgefuneralservice.org.