Paul Michael Diggs, 70 years 11 months, passed away on November 9, 2024, in his home in Pinson, TN. He was surrounded by his wife and three children at the time of his passing.
Mike was born on November 16, 1953, in Lexington, TN to the late Paul Earl Diggs and Martha Glenn Diggs. Throughout his childhood he moved between Tennessee and Illinois with his parents. He loved nothing more than to spend time with the Diggs and Williams sides of his family. He continued to tell the stories of his childhood all through his life.
Mike met his sweetheart when he was fourteen and she was thirteen. They rode the school bus together, he had his sights set on her from the beginning, but when she pushed his sock down with her foot, their love journey began. Mike married Deborah “Debbie” Jean Swoape on June 9, 1972, at Southside Baptist Church in Jackson, TN. They have three children, Bridget Yvonne Diggs Fernandes, Amber Lynn Cogbill, and Matthew Rory Diggs. The family lived and raised their family in Pinson, TN. Mike is survived by his wife Deborah Diggs, children Bridget (Lincoln) Diggs Fernandes, Amber (Grant) Cogbill, Matthew (Zandrea) Diggs, aunts Ella Mae Diggs and Linda (Jerry) England, and many cousins. He was also the loving grandfather to Ruby Diggs, Rory Diggs, and Olive Diggs.
Mike had many jobs through his life. Through his life he worked as a welder, at Ashby Veneer and Lumber Company, he was maintenance man extraordinaire in many locations, and as a high school custodian. One of his great accomplishments was being the last employee to leave the Bemis Cotton Mill and then being chosen to clean out the mill after its closing. He was one of the hardest working, most faithful employees you would ever find on the job. He took pride in showing up to work everyday, doing his job right, and trying to make everyone laugh while he was doing it.
Mike had many hobbies in life. He enjoyed fishing, metal scrapping, piddling in his shed, metal detecting, walking, puzzles, coloring (shhhh…. that’s a secret, and he was really good at it), and taking care of things around his house and property. He loved to cook for his family specializing in all things breakfast, pancakes, french toast, biscuits and eggs, and his favorite sweet treat, sugar toast. Mike was a man of wonders, he knew a little bit about everything, he could fix anything, make anything, and was just an all-around great son, husband, dad, papaw, friend, and child of GOD.
Graveside services will be 3:00 PM Monday November 11, 2024, at Rogers Cemetery with Matthew Diggs officiating.
The family will receive friends at Shackelford Funeral Directors – Crook Avenue Chapel from 2:00 PM until 2:45 PM on Monday.
Shackelford Funeral Directors
731-989-2421
