Nathan L. Higgs, Sr.

Mr. Nathan L. Higgs, Sr., 79, of Grayson, GA passed on Wednesday, December 25, 2024. Celebration of Life (Memorial Service) will be held on Saturday, January 4, 2025, at 1:00 PM at our Gwinnett Chapel 914 Scenic Hwy Lawrenceville, GA 30045. Services entrusted to Gregory B. Levett & Sons Funeral Home, Gwinnett Chapel, 914 Scenic Hwy Lawrenceville, GA 30045. (770)338-5558. “Bells will be ringing the glad, glad news Oh, what a Christmas to have the Blues, My baby’s gone, I have no friends To wish me greetings, once again…” (“Please Come Home for Christmas”, B.B. King) On Christmas morning, after a short battle with cancer, I went home for Christmas…. 79 years ago, on January 20, 1945, I was born on a farm in Speed, NC, (Edgecombe County) to Nathaniel Worsley and Rose Mary Batts Higgs. My bonus dad, Arthur Lee Higgs, Sr., loved me as his own. I was raised in Speed, NC, by Jesse and Liler Higgs, or “Ma” as she was affectionately known. “Ma” barely stood 4 feet tall but had the presence of a woman more than 6 feet tall. She was very kind to me but was “no nonsense” for sure. I was blessed to have a lot of sisters and brothers—Thurman Higgs (Mary), Arthur Higgs (Christine), Julius Higgs* (Helen), Jonnie Higgs (Mary*), Roy Higgs (Betty), Linda Pearson*, Paul Higgs, Jesse Lee Worsley*, Lois Jean Cooper (Garland*), Mary Williams (John*), Larry Worsley*, Jeremiah Worsley (Isalene*), Eddie Lee Worsley, Callie Peterson (Melvin), Gloria Jean Thompson, Dorothy Higgs*, Bernadine Wiggins (George), Debbie Ann Hunter, George Higgs, Jr. (Edwina), and Michael Higgs. I loved them all dearly. I didn’t get to go to school often as we were only able to go to school when we were not planting, tending the land, or harvesting. Farm work came before school or anything else. In 1965, I married Stella Malone and had four amazing kids—Wendy Higgs, Nathan Higgs, Jr. (Romilde), Tammie Higgs, and Veronica Higgs Cope. We were married for 38 years. My kids have made me proud and are my greatest gifts to the world. Growing up on a sharecropping farm was not easy, so when I got the opportunity to leave I did. I left Speed to go to the big city of Tarboro, NC, in Eastern NC, for industrial work in the early 1970s. I drove road construction trucks for many years and am partially responsible for many highways throughout NC. Country Westerns and playing the guitar—any guitar I could get my hands on—were my favorite past times. From a very early age, I developed a love for the guitar from hearing my Uncle George Higgs Sr., play and learned to play by ear. My Uncle George became a world-renowned blues acoustic guitarist. My guitar became my very best friend and outlet when no one else was around. I could play them all but I must say my favorite was the electric guitar. There was not a B.B. King or Chuck Berry song I couldn’t play. In 1998, I moved to the Atlanta area. I found love again and married Vanessa Mcadory. I loved her children Eugene and Starr as my own. We were married for over 25 years until she died of illness in 2021. I’m sad to leave my family, especially my kids, grandkids (11), great-grandkids (12), and great- great grandkids (2), but my job on Earth was done and it was time for me to come home. Just know that I loved all of you deeply and I miss you already. Like my favorite artist B.B. King once said, “There will be no more sorrow, no grief and pain, ‘cause I’m happy, happy once again!” Be kind to each other, love on each other, and I will see you on the other side. * denotes deceased

Tributes

Nathan L. Higgs, Sr.

January 20, 1945 - December 25, 2024