Joseph Allen "Jimmy" Rigby

Joseph Allen “Jimmy” Rigby, 81, of Kosciusko passed away at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Kosciusko on May 28, 2022. Visitation is 5:00 p.m. -7:00 p.m. Monday, May 30, at Jordan Funeral Home, and Tuesday, May 31, 2022 from 9:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. at First Baptist Church. Funeral Services are Tuesday, May 31, at First Baptist Church Kosciusko with burial to follow at Parkway Cemetery. Ministering are Rev. Barry Corbett, Rev. Mark Parnell and Dr. Luke Gardner. Jimmy was born October 23, 1940, to Joe and Mildred Jenkins Rigby in Attala County. He graduated from Durant High School in 1961 and was a graduate of Holmes Community College. Jimmy was an active member of First Baptist Church since 1978 where he participated in many ministries within the church. He was active in the local jail ministry for over 25 years where he faithfully shared the gospel with the inmates every week. He served the children at Love Mission for over 20 years. He was a part of the Walk to Emmaus community along with the Kairos Prison Ministry. Jimmy loved to go on mission trips to help serve in Fort Worth, Texas at the Beautiful Feet Ministries. Jimmy served his country as a member of the 114th Artillery National Guard for nine years. He was an avid horseman. His love of horses started many decades ago and continued up until his death. He enjoyed showing horses in local and state horseshows, trail riding with his friends, and watching his grandchildren show and compete in rodeos when they were younger. Jimmy especially enjoyed riding gaited horses and participating in the Mississippi Horseshow Association local and state shows. In 2003, he placed first in the men’s gaited pleasure event in the state of Mississippi. In 2021, Jimmy was awarded a lifetime membership in the East Mississippi Horseshow Association. Jimmy was retired from Holmes Community College where he was the Automotive Instructor for 31 years. From the first class he taught, he was known as “Chief” by his students. Some of his greatest achievements while at Holmes include being inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame located in Dearborn, Michigan, in 1992. He received the distinction for successfully passing all eighteen of the ASE testing categories and received the “World Class Technician” designation from the Automotive Service Industry Association. In 1995, under his leadership the Automotive program at Holmes Community College was named the Best Post-Secondary Automotive Technician Training program in the state of Mississippi. Also, that year he received the Mississippi Association of Vocational Education Teacher of the Year Award. Jimmy loved his family, especially his grandchildren and great grandchildren who affectionately called him “Pop.” He never missed an opportunity to support his grandchildren in any activity in which they might be participating. He was so proud of each one of them. Pop was their biggest supporter, encourager, and always left with saying, “I love you.” Jimmy is survived by his wife, Ina Jones Rigby; daughters Leah Rigby Gilbert and Anna Rigby Holt (Danny); grandchildren Mason Holt (Lacey), Mady Holt Whitworth (Barrett), Alston Gilbert; great-grandchildren Vada Grace Whitworth and Briggs Owen Holt all of Kosciusko; sister Doris Rigby Lepard of Clinton; sister in law Jean McAdams Rigby of Kosciusko; uncle James Jenkins of Meridian; bonus great grands Hunter Clausen, Jaxson Biggart, and Savannah Biggart of Kosciusko and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. He is preceded in death by his parents Joseph Franklin “Joe” and Eunice Mildred Jenkins Rigby, brothers Ricky Wayne Rigby and Toby Michael Rigby, son-in-law Victor Gilbert, brother-in-law Wesley Lepard. Serving as pallbearers will be Mason Holt, Alston Gilbert, Barrett Whitworth, Matt Skelton, Sam Hudson, Mike Rawson, Scott Rigby, and Toby Clausen. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Kempe Hodges, Bobby Joe Pinkard, Jimmy Jenkins, Robert Alexander, Bob Scott, Dwight Myrick, Travis McBride, Tim Pinkard, and Eddie Ellis. Memorials may be made to Mission First, First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 70, Kosciusko, MS 39090 or Beautiful Feet Ministries, 1790 East Hattie Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76104 For online condolences visit www.jordanfuneralhome.com.