Celebration of Life honors Hollis Briggs’ legacy

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A longtime community leader, Hollis Briggs, was laid to rest on Saturday, as family, friends, and public officials gathered at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in Wilmington to honor his life and legacy.

Briggs, who made significant contributions to the Wilmington community, was remembered for his public service and dedication. His celebration of life brought together loved ones and community leaders, reflecting the lasting impact he had on the city and beyond.

The service began with a moment of prayer, followed by reflections from those who knew Briggs best. Reverend Jonathan Barfield spoke about Briggs’ commitment to order and discipline, emphasizing the values he lived by, especially in his role organizing the Martin Luther King Jr. Parade.

“Hollis was a man who always did things decently and in order. He ran the MLK parade, and it started on time. As we started on time today, we honor him in that way.”

Barfield also shared that Briggs had planned every detail of his own service.

“Hollis knew what he wanted. He created his own obituary, planned his funeral procession, and even handpicked the speakers. He was a man of true preparation.”

Following scripture readings and hymns, Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo offered remarks, recalling how integral Briggs was in the development of the city and his role in building strong community connections.

“Within a week, he had us out walking the neighborhood, talking to people. He said, ‘This is what we need. We’ve been talking about it for years. It’s time y’all do something about it.'”

Mayor Saffo also shared a touching exchange he had with Briggs a week before his death, where Briggs expressed his ongoing dedication to the Martin Luther King Jr. celebration.

“At the end, he said, ‘Bill, I’ve got to go. I’ve got people calling me about the MLK celebration. We’ve got to get this thing back on track.’ I said, ‘I know you will, HB, and I’ll see you soon, my friend.'”

The service concluded with expressions of sympathy from the community, and hundreds of heartfelt cards were sent in honor of Briggs. Three of these cards were read aloud during the ceremony:

“The most important thing one leaves behind in this world is the priceless gift of love and its endless memories. May you find peace in the memories that will stay with you always.”

After the ceremony, Briggs’ procession took one last march down the Martin Luther King Jr. Parade route, a final journey that passed through Wilmington before his burial at Bethel AME Church Cemetery in Leland.