Mary Jane Briggs has passed at age 87. She born in St. Louis to the late Frances and Zenophen Williams. Her brother Clayton Williams and great nephew Clayton Rice also preceded her in death. Mrs. Briggs was the widow of Major John F. Briggs, an original Tuskegee Airman who passed on June 2, 2007.
Mrs. Briggs attended St. Rita’s academy, an all-girls Catholic boarding school located at that time on South Broadway. She received her undergraduate degree in medical social work at Lincoln University in 1950. Mrs. Briggs received a full academic scholarship for a graduate program at Howard University in Washington, D.C. to study infantile paralysis, a condition known today as polio.
Her passion for people in the field of social work enabled her to log successful tenure at Homer G. Phillips Hospital, Catholic Charities, American Red Cross and the Veteran’s Administration. Her career spanned more than four decades across three states.
Mrs. Briggs was a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Her main love was her husband of 47 years, John, and her family. She leaves to cherish her memory: sister-in-law Althlee (the late Clayton) Williams; brother-in-laws George (Imelda) Carper and Adolphus (Sharon) Briggs; nieces Vivian (Jerry) Ransburg, Teresa (the late Stanley) Rice; nephew Clayton C. (Betty) Wlliams Jr.; great-nieces and nephews Geoffri McElmeel, Harrison (Glanda) Smith, Shawn Smith, Kelly Smith and Teresa Smith.
Services: memorial mass on Friday, August 10 at 11 a.m. at St. Matthew the Apostle Catholic Church, 2715 N. Sarah St. Interment: Jefferson Baracks National Cemetery. Repast: Hallmark of Creve Coeur, #1 New Ballas Pl. at 3 p.m.