Gerald Calvin Briggs

Gerald Calvin Briggs passed away on August 13,2025 after a sudden illness. He was born in Rowan County to William T. and Polly Kluttz Briggs on March 28, 1931. Gerald lived all his life in Salisbury except for his time in the Air Force where he was stationed in N. Africa for 18 months. He was stationed for a time in Springfield, Missouri where he met his wife of 71 years, Mary Lou Mayo.

Gerald worked for Rowan Dairy as a route salesman and then for Flav o Rich until he retired.

He had a love of the land and farmed many acres of vegetables, most notably his delicious tomatoes, cantaloupes and watermelons that he sold on a stand in front of the house. He planted and sold bushels of peanuts every year until he couldn’t manage the work anymore. He also raised cows for many years. They would come up to him to say hello when they heard his voice.

Gerald had a kind heart and always had a smile and warm greeting for everyone. He had a wealth of know-how and could repair or make almost anything. Gerald was one of the last breed of truly self -sufficient people.

Gerald was a life-long, faithful member of Salem Lutheran Church where he was a Sunday School teacher, choir member, and did musical outreach as well as many other volunteer activities. He had played recreational baseball in younger years and served as PTA president, and band president at West Rowan when his daughters attended there.

Gerald will be missed by his wife, Mary Lou Mayo Briggs, daughters, Brenda Briggs Bowman (Phil), of Greensboro: Mary “Frankie” Kelly (Doug), of Salisbury: son, Russell “Rusty” Briggs of Efland.

His grandchildren are Erin Van Mol (Charlie Christensen Phillips) of Raleigh: Caitlin Van Mol, of Brooklyn, NY; Anna Bowman, of Fort Collins, CO; Sean Bowman (Karley), of Ogden, UT; Tyler March, of Washington DC; and Emily Kelly of Boone, NC.

He was predeceased by his daughter, Laurie Briggs, his brothers, Albert, Tommy, Alvin, and Garland, and his sisters, Celia Summit, Mary Ellen Earnhardt, and Thetis Sloop.

Visitation will be from 11-12 pm on Friday, August 22, 2025 at Salem Lutheran Church, 5080 Sherrills Ford Road, Salisbury, NC 28147, followed by the service at noon. Burial will be in the church cemetery immediately following the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family request memorials be made to the J. E.  Briggs Music Scholarship Fund, c/o Salem Lutheran Church or to Salem Lutheran Church, (above address)

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