Shirley V. Briggs

Shirley V. Briggs, 85, of South Kingstown, died Wednesday. She was the beloved wife of James Briggs. Born in Providence, she was a daughter of the late Edward and Louise (Goulart) Vallee. She was a graduate of South Kingstown High School in 1947. In 1957, she and her husband founded The Briggs Septic Company, which they owned and operated until 1978, when their son James Briggs, Jr. took over the business. She was an artist and former member of the South County Art Association of Rhode Island, and she enjoyed spending time in her flower gardens. Besides her husband she is survived by six children, Linda Briggs of North Kingstown, James Briggs, Jr. and Steven Briggs, both of South Kingstown, Cheryl Hall of Wakefield, Mark Briggs of Charlestown, and Wayne Briggs of Attleboro, MA; eighteen grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren; a sister Norma Briggs of Peace Dale; and two brothers, Robert Vallee of Wakefield and Richard Vallee of Swansea, MA. She was the sister of the late Edward Vallee and James Vallee. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at the Avery-Storti Funeral Home, 88 Columbia Street, Wakefield. Burial will follow in St. Francis Cemetery, Peace Dale. Visiting hours are Sunday, 4-6 p.m. Family kindly requests to omit flowers and make memorial donations to the Alzheimer’s Association, 245 Waterman Street, Suite 306, Providence, RI 02906.