DIOCESAN NEWS
09/04/09
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Richard Briscoe dies in Tennessee
       SPARTA, Tenn. — Richard Whitelaw Briscoe, 88, died Aug. 23 at Cookeville Regional Medical Center in Tenn.
       Briscoe was the first lay Director of Administration and Finance of the Diocese of Jackson for 16 years, from June 22, 1970 to Dec. 31, 1987.
       Before his appointment in the Jackson diocese, he was a lieutenant in World War II and a pilot for Air Transport Command of U.S. Army Air Corps and flew missions out of North Africa. After the war, Briscoe owned several small businesses in West Plains, Mo.,
       Bishop William Houck said Briscoe, a convert, who came to the Catholic faith out of a real sense of conviction and love, was a man who through his work in finances for the church was of special help to priests.
       “He had deep faith, loved his family and loved working for the church,” Bishop Houck said. “He felt his life was very meaningful and important as long as he did that kind of task as well as he could and he enjoyed doing it.”
       Bishop Houck who became bishop of the Jackson diocese in 1979, said Briscoe was a man who had high expec- tations of everyone as he did of himself.
       In an e-mail sent to Bill Dunning, Director of Admin-istration and Finance of the Jackson diocese, his daughter Jeannette Dantice wrote, “As little girls, we would accompany daddy and mama from New York to Texas for campaigns to raise funds for Catholic institutions, and we have been so blessed by many priests, nuns, mother superiors, and bishops who have embraced our family in love and prayers.
       “We are a family blessed by our heavenly Father and most all of us ‘walk in Truth’ and are so grateful to be a part of the Body of Christ.”
       Briscoe was preceded in death by his parents and three sisters.
       Survivors include his wife of 67 years, Peggy Jane Kellett Briscoe, five daughters, Barbara Gordon and husband James, of Sparta; Connie Cox and husband Howard, of Anderson, S.C.; Jeanette Dantice and husband David, of Bostwick, Ga.; Pattie Russell and husband Garner, of Pass Christian, Miss.; Whit Matthews and husband Ken, of Dayton, Tenn.; 16 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren, and one sister, Mitzi Edwards of DeFuniak Springs, Fla.
       Funeral services were held Aug. 25 in the Chapel of Hunter Funeral Home.
       Graveside services were held in West Plains, Mo.

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