Chris Leggett

Jun 23, 2009

Christopher Ervin \"Chris\" Leggett, 39, of Nouakchott, Mauritania, Africa, and formerly of Cleveland, died 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.\" He 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, 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 and Ervin G. and Rachel A. Foreman.

Survivors include his wife, Jackie Beard Leggett; his parents, Jay and Linda Leggett of Cleveland; four children, Hannah Marie Leggett, Jordan Christopher Leggett, Haley Rebecca Leggett and Erin Christian Leggett; one brother and sister-in-law, Jay L. Leggett Jr. and Erica S. Leggett of Cleveland; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Charles and Shirley Beard of Cleveland; three nephews, Jay L. Leggett III, Grant W. Leggett and Jonathan M. Rowland, all of Cleveland; and several other family members.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at First Baptist Church of Cleveland with the Rev. Jim Gibson and Dr. Alan Lockerman officiating. Burial will follow in Fort Hill Cemetery in Cleveland.

Pallbearers will be Jake Beard, Shannon Brown, Junior Burke, Stan Gibson, Brian Nerren, Jack Roach, David Souther and Dennis Tweed.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 9 p.m. Monday and for one hour prior to the Tuesday service at the church.

Memorial contributions may be made to the family as follows: Directly to Jackie B. Leggett at 1112 Glenmore Dr., Cleveland, TN 37312, or through First Baptist Church of Cleveland, 340 Church St., 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.

Leave a message of condolence for the family at www.ralphbuckner.com

Ralph Buckner Funeral Home of Cleveland is in charge of arrangements.