MARS HILL: Gaither Edwin "G. E" Briggs, Jr. Age 80, Sunday, June 15th, "On Father's Day went home to be with his Heavenly Father." Mr. Briggs was a native of Madison County and son of the late Gaither Edwin Briggs Sr. and Pearl Sprinkle Briggs. He is also preceded in death by three grandchildren and a brother Mannon Gayle Briggs. Mr. Briggs was a member of Beech Glenn Baptist Church where he served as deacon for many years. He was a U. S. Army Veteran, retired from North Carolina Department of Transportation, a Madison County School Bus Driver and farmed in the Mars Hill area for years. He is survived by his wife of 46 years; Sandra Edwards Briggs, son; Jimmy and wife Kathy of Weaverville, special grandson; Edwin Briggs, who was the light of his life, very close cousins; Pauline Briggs Carr, Paul Pritchard Briggs, Bruce Briggs, Lee Roy Briggs and Billy Briggs, aunt: Elezene Briggs. He is also survived by "Special grandchildren" Jacob Shelton, Clint Shuford and James Bartlett. A funeral service will be held at 2:00pm Thursday, June 19, at Robbie Capps Memorial Chapel of Blue Ridge Funeral Service. Reverends Stanley Peek and Ben Whitmire will officiate. Burial will follow in the Mars Hill Baptist Church Cemetery. Military rites conducted by Mars Hill VFW Post #5483. The family will receive friends from 6 – 8 PM Wednesday, June 18 at the funeral home. At other times the family will be at the home of Carroll and Suzette Bartlett on 243 Jupiter Road, Weaverville, NC 28787. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blueridgefuneralservice.org.