Miss Rigsby died

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/pensacolanewsjournal/obituary.aspx?n=billie-joyce-rigsby&pid=165433260&fhid=6174

Billie Joyce Rigsby had a program on Channel 3 called "Romper Room".  It was a kiddie program.

She taught at Escambia High School with the same tenderness and was universally loved... A really sweet lady.

I had her for 6th (last) period.  Toward the end of class, when Miss Rigsby had her back turned the guy next to the exit would file out the door and everybody would shift over.  This process would repeat until the class was nearly empty. She pretended not to notice.

RIP Miss Rigsby

It's good to read about people like this who made such a quiet but profound difference in the lives of others. When my grandmother passed away, there were so many strangers at the funeral. Come to find out, they were scores of adults whom she had taught to read in first grade. Someone stopped me and said the entire literacy of the room grew out of her gentle and patient teaching.

Thank you for acknowledging this woman so kindly.

Thanks SS.

About fifteen years after I graduated from high school, I videotaped a graduation ceremony at the Civic Center (ahem, the Bay Center), and Miss Rigsby was introduced with the other "distinguished guests", and the thunderous applause to the mention of her name warmed my heart.