Ruth Berneta Riggs

Ruth Berneta Riggs, 86, of Jonesboro, formerly of Manila, died Thursday March 3, 2011, at the Craighead Nursing Center in Jonesboro. Born in Manila, she was the daughter of the late George Washington and Alta B. Knott Bunch and had been a lifelong Manila resident before making her home in Jonesboro in 1998. She was a graduate of Manila High School and had been an employee of Bobbie Brooks Clothing Manufacturing, formerly of Lepanto.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by the woman that raised her, Mrs. Emma Grace Bunch, an infant daughter, Sheila Diane Byrd, a sister, Yvettia Bunch, and three husbands, Mr. Junior Byrd, Mr. W.T. Dobbs and Mr. T.L. Riggs.

She is survived by three sons, Jerry Byrd of Stephensville, Texas, Larry Byrd and his wife Melba, and Mickey Byrd and his wife Carol, all of Jonesboro;

A daughter, Faye Turner of Springdale;

Five brothers, Arthur Bunch of St. Louis, J.R. Bunch of Piedmont, Mo., and Jimmy Bunch, Garry Bunch and Michael Bunch, all of Manila;

Five sisters, Helen Woolf of St. Louis, Martha Cary of Foristell, Mo., Minnie Bourland of Suison, Calif., Carolyn Bill of Jonesboro and Sherry Pratt of Manila; and

Ten grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren

Funeral Services were 1 p.m. Saturday in the Howard Funeral Chapel in Manila with the Rev. Eddie Hawkins officiating. Burial followed in the Manila Cemetery.

Active pallbearers were David Bunch, Daniel Bunch, Scott Cary, Larry Corder, Joe Bridges and James Bridges.

The family received visitors from 6-8 p.m.

To sign the online guest register log onto ww.howardfuneralservice.com.