Fannie Marie Diggs

Mrs. Fannie “Marie” Diggs was born March 3, 1946 in Birmingham, Alabama, the daughter of William and Queen Mary Gibbs. She passed away Tuesday, January 29, 2019 at the age of 72 years.

Fannie was a resident of Saginaw, Michigan. She attended Vassar High School and graduated “Class of 1964.” Two months after graduation, Fannie married the love of her life, Willie Diggs. The two were married forty-nine years. She then attended Delta College and studied nursing. She worked various jobs in Healthcare, starting as a nurse’s aide at Caro State Hospital, and later at Saginaw County Hospital, St. Mary’s Hospital and the Veteran’s Hospital.

Fannie enjoyed baking, knitting, crocheting, traveling and reading. She was a wonderful caretaker and homemaker. Although she took care of others for a living, she took care of her family best. A loving wife, caring mother and adoring grandmother is how she will be cherished and remembered.

Fannie was preceded in death by her husband, Willie Diggs; parents, William and Queen Mary Gibbs; daughter, Charlotte (Diggs) Genwright; sisters, Mattie Hubbard, Emelia Young; brothers, Martin Burton, Edward Burton, Booker T. Gibbs; father and mother-in-law, Cleotha and Vanilla Barkus and father-in-law, Clyde Barkus, Sr.; sisters-in-law, Marilyn and Hattie Mae Taylor; brother-in-law, Clyde Barkus, Jr.

She leaves to treasure a lifetime of memories daughter, Constance Tennille Diggs; sons, Reginald (Stacy) Diggs, Sam (Sondra) Genwright; grandchildren, Chantel (Shawn) Kelley, Gabreille Hughes, Jeremy Neal, Braylon Diggs, Jaden Neal, Jimmie Davis; great-grandchildren, Callista and Tireale Kelley, Jordyn, Jimmie, Baille Davis; sisters, Lucille Osborne, Ernestine Graham, Genevea Wesley, Shirley Garrison; brother, Bernard Gibbs; sisters-in-law, Evelyn Chambers, Carolyn Roberson, Gwendolyn (Karl) Harris, Roslyn Barkus; brothers-in-law, Peter and Christopher Barkus; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends, including special cousin, Celestine (William) Simmons.

The family would like to express special thanks to Celestine Simmons, Dewuan Nunnery, Grace Hospice, Janet Pruitt, Mt. Olive Institutional Missionary Baptist Church and House of Prayer Baptist Church.