I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
In the early afternoon hours of December 6th, Cecil Pigg, 92, of Harvest, completed his long and hard fought race on this earth. He never relinquished his faith, no matter the struggles he faced. He passed away peacefully in his daughter’s home following a brief illness. Cecil lost his mother and father at age 9 and he and his siblings were raised by his grandparents. He worked hard grueling days in the cotton fields of north Madison County and tobacco fields of southern Tennessee. He was taught many life lessons by his loving grandfather, Rufus “Pap” Satterfield.
At age of 18, Cecil went to live with his beloved Uncle Bill Pigg and his wife Maybelle. When he was 19, he joined the US Navy and served his country proudly during the Korean conflict from 1950 until 1954 aboard the USS Norton Sound. He returned to the Harvest community and married his love, Elizabeth Jackson.
Cecil worked for Genesco for 34 years and then worked another 16 years for Walmart before becoming disabled due to a car wreck. Not willing to give up, he built himself back up and went back to work part time at Genesco before finally retiring in 2013.
He loved gardening, prowling in the woods and most anything outdoors. Cecil was a storyteller and writer on days that were too cold to get out. From the great Northern Lights to Pearl Harbor to the backwoods of the Tennessee hills, he had seen much and had plenty to tell and write about.
Cecil was preceded in death by his wife of 67 years, Elizabeth Pigg; parents, Lonnie and Rachel Pigg; beloved grandson, Justin Yarbrough; one great-grandson, Tucker William Yarbrough; brother, Gene Travis; and sister, Lucy Jackson.
He is survived by only child, Lynn Yarbrough (Rodney), of Harvest; beloved granddaughter, Ashley Matice; beloved grandson-in-law, Jerry Matice, of Toney; sister, Edna Hargrove, of Athens; great-grandchildren: Brett Matice, Landon Hillis, Justin Allen Yarbrough, Avery Hillis, Piper Yarbrough, and Daisy Yarbrough. He is also survived by his favorite sister-in-law, Linda Hovis;special nephew and longtime outdoor partner, Bobby Hovis; along with many other nieces and nephews.
There will be a graveside service Friday, December 8th at 2:00 PM at Gatlin Cemetery in Ardmore with Rev. Jerry Hovis officiating. Carrying Cecil to his final rest will be Brett Matice, Justin Allen Yarbrough, Landon Hillis, Jerry Matice, Jeff Hovis, and Bobby Hovis.
The family is forever grateful to Hospice nurse Jennifer Kelly for her sweet-loving compassion during Cecil’s illness. On this earth, there are angels among us.
