Ruth Berneta Riggs

Ruth Berneta Riggs, 85, of Jonesboro, formerely 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, formerely of Lepanto.

In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by the woman that raised her, Mrs. Grace Emma Bunch, an infant daughter, Sheila Diane Byrd, a sister, Yvettia Bunch, and three husbands, Junior Byrd, W.T. Dobbs and 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, Mo., J.R. Bunch of Piedmont, Mo., Jimmy Bunch, Garry Bunch, and Michael Bunch, all of Manila; five sisters, Helen Woolf of St. Louis, Mo., Martha Cary of Foristell, Mo., Minnie Bourland of Suison, Calif., Carolyn Bill of Jonesboro, Sherry Pratt of Manila; 10 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 Friday evening from 6-8 p.m.

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