[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 59 (Wednesday, April 22, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E937]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         A TRIBUTE TO THE LIFE OF REVEREND CHESTER RIGGINS, SR.

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 22, 2009

  Mr. COSTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the life of 
Reverend Chester Riggins, Sr. of Fresno, California, who passed away at 
the age of 80 years old. Reverend Riggins was preceded in death by his 
first wife Lillian Hines, his son Rodney Chester and daughter Diedra 
Grazelle and is survived by his second wife Anna Marie and his children 
Chester Jr., Shawn Mark, Noel Patrick, Sheila Antionette and Freida 
Yvonne along with their families.
  Chester was born on December 8, 1928 in Marshall, Texas to John and 
Effie Riggins. Chester grew up in Marshall, Texas, until the middle of 
the fifth grade at which time his family moved to Fresno, CA, in 
December of 1938. Upon arriving in Fresno, he began attending Lincoln 
Elementary School. During his teenage years he attended junior high at 
Thomas A. Edison Jr. High School and graduated from Thomas A. Edison 
High School in 1945. In 1946, he volunteered for the U.S. Army and 
following his basic training was stationed in Guam. After an honorable 
discharge from the U.S. Army in 1947 he enrolled at Fresno State 
College.
  As a child Chester answered an altar call during a chapel service at 
Park School in Marshall, Texas. Upon settling in Fresno his family 
attended the Second Baptist Church where he was baptized by Reverend 
Charles H. Byrd and Reverend L.C. Garret, and then transferred to Mount 
Pleasant Baptist Church. In 1950, he served as a Sunday school teacher, 
Director of Baptist Training Union, church clerk and church financial 
secretary. Two years later he was ordained as Deacon and served as 
Deacon Chairman for 5 years.
  Chester continued to grow in his religious studies when he was called 
to the Gospel Ministry in 1960. On January 8, 1961, he was licensed as 
a Pastor by Reverend H.S. Moore. In 1961, he was invited and served as 
Youth Minister for Mt. Pleasant. He was ordained on Januray 25, 1962, 
to the Gospel Ministry by Reverend L.C. Garrett and assumed pastor-age 
at St. Rest on February 13, 1962.
  Reverend Riggins was instrumental in bringing many people back to the 
church even after being inactive members. The church grew both in 
spirituality and financially under the leadership of Pastor Riggins. As 
the congregation grew so did the need for a bigger building. His 
leadership in the community proved to be instrumental as the new 
building broke ground in March of 1979 and was ready for use at the 
Christmas Eve celebration in December 1979.
  Pastor Riggins was also an active member of the community throughout 
the years. He was a founding board member of the Fresno Police 
Chaplains Organization, member of the Concerned Citizens for Quality 
Education, temporary Chairman of the Fresno Model Cities Program and a 
member of the West Fresno Interdenominational Alliance.
  It is my privilege to say Reverend Chester Riggins, Sr., was an 
honorable and respected man with a commitment to God, family, and the 
community. He will forever live in the lives of the people he so 
graciously touched. I am honored and humbled to join his family in 
celebrating the life of this spiritually amazing man whose legacy lives 
on at Saints Rest Missionary Baptist Church of Fresno, California.

                          ____________________