The funeral for an East Tennessee man killed by gunmen in Africa is set Tuesday in his hometown of Cleveland.Thirty-nine-year-old Chris Leggett was killed June 23 on the streets of Nouakcott, the capital city of Mauritania.
An Arab satellite TV station aired an audio statement purportedly issued by a North African Al-Qaida group spokesman who said the group killed Leggett because he was allegedly trying to convert Muslims to Christianity.
The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at First Baptist Church in Cleveland.
Christopher Ervin (Chris) Leggett, 39, formerly of Cleveland 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 and Ervin G. and Rachel A. Foreman.
Survivors include his wife, Jackie Beard Leggett; parents: Jay and Linda Leggett of Cleveland; 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; father-in-law and mother-in-law: Charles and Shirley Beard of Cleveland; nephews: Jay L. Leggett III, Grant W. Leggett and Jonathan M. Rowland, all of Cleveland; and several other family members.
The funeral will be held Tuesday, June 30, 2009, at the First Baptist Church of Cleveland at 2 p.m. with the Rev. 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 will be held Monday, June 29, 2009, at the First Baptist Church of Cleveland from 5 to 9 p.m. and also 1 hour prior to the Tuesday service.
Memorials may be made 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 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. 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.
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