Kenneth DeVillo Briggs, Jr.

December 20, 2020
Kenneth DeVillo Briggs, Jr.

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Kenneth DeVillo Briggs, Jr. of Williamsburg, Virginia passed away at his home in the presence of his wife and son on Sunday, December 20, 2020 at the age of 87.

Kenny was born to parents Kenneth and Louise nee’ Tudor on February 3, 1933 in Williamsburg at Bell Hospital. A life long resident of Williamsburg, Kenny known as Kenny-boy during his youth graduated from Matthew Whaley School in 1951 and shortly thereafter joined the Air Force and achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant and was honorably discharged on 1955. During his tenure with the Air Force as an Explosive Operator while stationed overseas in Okinawa, Japan a 64 year marriage with Yoshiko Nakandakari would began from a lunch break volleyball game. Upon returning to Williamsburg Kenny began a long career as chief maintenance mechanic at BASF formally known as DOW Badische Chemicals. Kenny was a lifetime member of the Williamsburg Presbyterian Church.

Kenny will be remembered for his love of the outdoors and enjoyed riding his tandem bicycle with Yoshiko along the Capital Trail and Colonial Parkway. Memorable trips to the Grand Canyon and rafting the New River Gorge were just a sampling of his adventures. Most of all he loved to fix things! Friends and neighbors could always count on Kenny coming over to repair a leaky faucet or diagnose and correct engine troubles.

Kenny is preceded in death by his parents; sister Jean Baldwin (Colonel Theodore R. Baldwin) and their son, Ted Baldwin; sister Nancy Briggs; son Mark E. Briggs and his wife Ann.

Kenny is survived by his wife Yoshiko N. Briggs; son Matthew E. Briggs and his wife Barbara of Midlothian, VA; sister Nina Mae Carter (Jack Carter) of Williamsburg, VA; grandchildren Bobbi, Toni, Jason; one beautiful great granddaughter Adrianna; nieces Mary Lou Carter, Kathy Carter Huff; Diane Fields and devoted nephew Ike Carter.

A private graveside service will be at Cedar Grove Cemetery.


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  • December 29, 2020
    Diane Fields lit a candle:
    Lit since December 29, 2020 at 12:50:51 AM

  • December 29, 2020
    Ike Carter says:
    I remember my uncle as a man that loved his family and family history. On one of my last visits pre covid I brought with me daguerreotypes from the 1800s of some of our family members I found on the Briggs side. He named every one of them without pause and gave me stories of each one. I will remember his quiet devotion to Yoshiko. I remember him as a devoted member of the Williamsburg Presbyterian Church. I remember talking trucks and tractors with him. I especially remember him at my own father’s death telling me you lost your father, but I will always be here for you. He was a great uncle. We will miss him dearly.

  • December 29, 2020
    Bobbi Briggs says:
    I love and miss Popeye. He was my 2nd Daddy growing up. I remember how he would read a book every night to Toni and I. I remember all those bike rides we would take through Jamestown and the long walks through Colonel Williamsburg every summer. Popeye and Grandma would also treat Toni and I with a lovely day at Bush Gardens and Water Country USA. I miss our dinners at night and Popeye sitting at the end of the table right in front of the window that looked outside the backyard. Popeye was literally out cutting grass and trimming trees earlier this year. That's how strong of a man he was. The one thing I'll miss the most was him blessing our dinner with a prayer every Thanksgiving and Christmas. The last conversation I had with Popeye ended with him telling me how he was just thinking about me the other day of a memory of us. He said, "I remember how you would hold my hand while your Dad and I were walking through a Home Depot store." I'll never forget that

  • December 30, 2020
    Mary Lou Carter lit a candle:
    Lit since December 30, 2020 at 12:52:25 PM