Ruth Berneta Riggs

Ms. 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 was a longtime resident of Manila before making her home in Jonesboro in 1998. She was a graduate of Manila High School and was an employee of Bobbie Brooks Clothing Manufacturing, formerly in 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; one sister, Yvettia Bunch; and three husbands, Mr. Junior Byrd, Mr. W.T. Dobbs and Mr. T.L. Riggs.

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

One daughter, Faye Turner of Springdale;

Five brothers, Arthur Bunch of St. Louis, J.R. Bunch of Piedmont, Mo., and Jimmy Bunch, Michael Bunch and Garry 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 will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Howard Funeral Service Chapel in Manila with the Rev. Eddie Hawkins officiating. Burial will follow in the Manila Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be David Bunch, Daniel Bunch, Scott Cary, Larry Corder, Joe Bridges and James Bridges. The family will receive visitors from 6-8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Guests can register on line at www.howardfuneralhome.com