Carol May Briggs crossed over from her temporal life here on this earth to her eternal life with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and her heavenly Father on October 5, 2024.
Carol will always be affectionately known to all of us as a Mom and Grandma. Mom was born to George and Claudia Weppler on July 4, 1931; she lived to be 93 years old. She married our dad on November 22, 1952. Dad proceeded mom in death on July 18, 2017. Mom and dad were married 64½ years.
We are extremely grateful for the compassionate care that mom received from Ludington Woods during the last few years and Elara Hospice Care throughout much of this last year.
Together mom and dad had six children. Their five sons: Gordon Briggs and wife Sue of Scottville, Pastor Dale Briggs D.Min and wife Kathy of Tucson, Ariz., John Briggs MD and wife Susie serving as missionaries in Togo Africa, Greg Briggs also serving as a missionary in Togo, Scott Briggs and wife Jeanene of Scottville; and their daughter Joy Assaad MD and husband Haney Assaad MD of Muskegon.
Mom was grandma to 23 grandchildren and their 12 spouses and 30 great-grandchildren.
Mom dearly loved her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was always most comfortable with a baby in her arms. Nothing could brighten her face more and bring a bigger smile to her face than to see her grandchildren and great grandchildren. This was especially true of her great-grand children in her later years of life.
Throughout the many years of mom’s life, she was very ministry minded. She taught the senior age Sunday School at Merrill Wesleyan Church in Merrill. Mom also began the junior church program at Trinity Evangelical Church in Ludington and continued working with children’s church at the Mason County Reformed Church in Scottville. Mom also enjoyed being involved in Girls Everywhere Meet the Savior (GEMS).
Mom was an avid baker of cookies, pies and cakes. She was not what you would call a gourmet type cook, but she always was able to put a feast on the table. This was especially true around the holidays like Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Watching bowl games on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s day with mom’s favorite punch and her special Chex Party Mix. was a favorite time for all of us.
Mom loved the outdoors. We went on many camping trips; often without facilities. There were visits to the beach for swimming and many times at the Ludington City Park for birthday parties. For several years after dad passed, mom spent almost everyday driving to the state park in the morning for a two mile walk and then in the afternoon driving to the pier on Lake Michigan for another two mile walk. When the weather prohibited these walks, she would walk the isles of Meijer. When the weather prohibited the drive to Meijer, mom would walk through all the cattle barns.
Our mother was a very persistent and resilient person; she was one tough lady. This could be seen in all she overcame in life and in her consistent self-sacrificing love as a mother and grandmother. Plus, this was obvious in the manner that she bounced back from the many injuries she suffered over the last few years. It was almost impossible to hold mom back.
But in the end death did hold mom back from her life on this earth, but because of mom’s faith in Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior, death could not hold mom back from her life eternal. The wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus the Lord (Romans 6:23).
When mom went home to be with her Lord and to be reunited with our dad, she left behind her sister Leona and her husband Wilbur, and her sister Mary and her husband Don. Mom left behind all of us; her six children and their spouses, her 23 grandchildren and their spouses, and her 30 great grand-children. We grieve, but not as those without hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18).
Seven years ago, mom and dad were briefly separated after 64½ years together. We all rejoice that they are now rejoined together. We all rejoice still more yet that mom is with the Lord.
We rejoice because we have a living hope that is based upon the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (1 Peter 1:3)
A Ceremony to celebrate the Life of Carol Briggs will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 26 at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Scottville with her son Pastor John Briggs officiating. Friends may meet with her family for a time of visitation from 10 a.m. until time of services at the church. Those who wish to remember Carol with a memorial donation are asked to please consider supporting The Friends of Ludington State Park.
Please visit Carol’s memory page at www.wymanfuneralservice.com to share a tribute or memory of Carol with her family.