By Staff
Christopher Ervin (Chris) Leggett, 39, formerly of Cleveland, Tenn., and a current resident of Nouakchott, Mauritania, Africa, passed away Tuesday, June 23, 2009, in Mauritania. He was greatly loved and respected by the Mauritanian people. The Mauritanian Minister of Justice stated that “his death was a great loss to Mauritania.” Chris lived and died for Christ.
He and his family were residents of Mauritania for the past seven years where he directed a non-governmental organization with a focus to help the people of Mauritania. One aspect of his work involved working with the prison systems to train and equip women and young boys to re-enter society. He directed a training center providing training in such areas as computer skills, sewing, and literacy. He also oversaw a micro-loan program which fostered growth of small businesses; hundreds of projects were financed which impacted the lives of countless people.
He was a 1987 graduate of Cleveland High School. He attended Cleveland State Community College and graduated from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 1990 with a degree in Business Administration. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Cleveland for many years and most recently was a member of Michigan Avenue Baptist Church of Cleveland.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents: Jay T. and Mildred B. Leggett; Ervin G. and Rachel A. Foreman.
Survivors include his wife, Jackie Beard Leggett; parents: Jay and Linda Leggett of Cleveland, Tenn.; four children: Hannah Marie Leggett, Jordan Christopher Leggett, Haley Rebecca Leggett and Erin Christian Leggett; brother and sister-in-law, Jay L. Leggett, Jr. and Erica S. Leggett of Cleveland, Tenn.; father-in-law and mother-in-law: Charles and Shirley Beard of Cleveland, Tenn.; nephews: Jay L. Leggett, III, Grant W. Leggett and Jonathan M. Rowland, all of Cleveland, Tenn.; and several other family members.
The funeral will be held on Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at the First Baptist Church of Cleveland at 2 p.m. with Reverend Jim Gibson and Dr. Alan Lockerman officiating. Interment will follow in Fort Hill Cemetery in Cleveland with Jake Beard, Shannon Brown, Junior Burke, Stan Gibson, Brian Nerren, Jack Roach, David Souther, and Dennis Tweed serving as pallbearers.
The visitation was held on Monday, June 29, 2009 at the First Baptist Church of Cleveland from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and also 1 hour prior to the Tuesday service.
Memorials can be given to the family as follows: Directly to Jackie B. Leggett at 1112 Glenmore Drive, Cleveland, TN 37312 or through First Baptist Church of Cleveland, 340 Church Street, Cleveland, TN 37311 and designated to the J. Mack Hall Fund or by going to www.clevelandfbc.com and selecting the icon for Chris Leggett. You may leave a message of condolence for the family at this Web site.
Messages of condolence may also be given at www.ralphbuckner.com.
Paid Obituary