| Notes |
- Rachel was born in Enterprise, Alabama and lived in Dothan, Evergreen, and Andalusia before going to Central Bible College in Springfield, Missouri in 1941. She graduated from Central Bible College in 1945 then moved to Pensacola, Florida after marrying Kyle Rigby.
The following note is from daughter Rebekah:
Rachel & Kyle
My parents, C. Kyle Rigby and Rachel J. Rigby, made great memories for us. I can never remember my parents yelling or arguing in front of us. I am sure they had times, but it wasn't done in front of us children. My dad always tried to get the best for us and show us the best time. He would get so excited just watching us get excited and the pleasure that we had. My dad was the night auditor of the San Carlos Hotel and during my childhood that was the place to be, it was before "motels". Many famous people came to stay at the San Carlos. He would get their autographs for us.
People like...Arnold Palmer, James Arness, Liberace, and many, many more. He would come after working all night and wake us up for school. He would always come in making a game of it. He would grab our legs and say "shake those tail feathers and get up". He would then have breakfast with us and would drive us to school.
My parents made it like a fairy-tale almost. We were never lacking because we didn't know that we were. We had everything we ever wanted. My mother would make us special things. Make us beautiful clothes. My parents were very creative and always out going, having all kinds of people over and having a great time together. Most of the times all our get-togethers would end up around the piano singing and having a great time in the Lord.
Our parents taught us the importance of the Love of God in our lives and how much God loved us. My parents were always together and doing things together and holding hands. My mother says that whenever they left the house my dad would always take her hand. That's something she misses very much. I love them very much and thank them for all the memories that I have of a great childhood and adulthood. Not everybody can say that.
I am very fortunate that I had godly parents and grandparents that showed and practiced the love of God.
Rebekah
Note from daughter Rosemary:
Cecil Kyle Rigby
There are so many things I could say about my dad that this book would turn into volumes. He was a hard worker and did whatever it took to provide for his family. No matter what the task was, he gave it everything he had. In addition to his regular employment, he took on odd jobs to help take care of the family and also maintained a home and rental property. He was a family man. Not just a father and a husband, but a son, a brother, an uncle, and a cousin. His extended family was important to him. He was always concerned about their health and circumstances. If there was anything he could do, it was done. What incredible love he demonstrated to me by taking care of his bedridden mother for almost 7 years, his sister dying of cancer, and his mother-in-law in her final days. He was tired, but never quit. He was giving. I watched him time after time give clothes, money, and time to those who needed it. As his children, we were guaranteed the last piece of pie or cake or cookie. He was never proud or haughty, but humble and grateful for his many blessings. He use to say to me “You are no better than anyone else and no one else is better than you”. He loved the Lord and had no greater desire than to lead others to Him. There was never a time that he counseled someone without asking them about their relationship with God.
Note from daughter Rosemary:
Nell Rachel Johnson
Whereby my father demonstrated his love by his playfulness and providing for us, my mother showed hers by the clothes she sewed, the 3 meals-a-day she cooked, the school research projects she worked on for us, the lunches she packed, the leaving work to bring our forgotten homework and at the end of the day, there was always that tuck and kiss 'good night'. She has been the mom that I could never duplicate. Like her mother before her, my mother is a Prayer Warrior. I can recall so many times coming out of my room in the middle of the night to get a drink of water or coming home late from being with my friends and I would find her in the corner of the living room praying, crying, and seeking the Lord. I have always known that as long as my mother is alive, there is somebody praying for and making intercession for me. Psalm 61 refers to the 'heritage of those who fear Your name'. I am so proud of my heritage.
|
1922 - 2018 (96 years)