Anita Caldwell Briggs

Anita Caldwell Briggs, 79, of Landrum, SC, left to be with her Lord on Saturday, March 14, 2026. Anita was afflicted with Parkinson's Like Disorder which affected her ability to walk and in the later stages, dementia associated with her disorder set in taking its toll. Anita was living at White Oak Manor in Tryon, NC at the time of her death.

Anita's was born in Memphis, Tennessee, to the parents of William Blount Briggs and Kate Brown Briggs both of Landrum. She was predeceased by her brothers, William Blount Briggs,Jr. and John Calhoun Briggs, and her uncles, Abram Jones Darling Briggs, III and Richard Hansworth Briggs. She is survived by her brother, Robert Blake Briggs (Deborah Neal Briggs), their children Robert Blake Briggs, Jr. (Chrys), Abram Miles Briggs ( Brandi) and Jennifer Nicole Briggs, John's children Amy Briggs Otwell (Chris) and James Hembree Briggs (Kim) and her Aunt Barbara Briggs along with several great nieces and nephews, and two great-great nephews and one great-great niece.

Anita graduated from Florida Presbyterian College in 1968 (B.A.), where she spent a year studying at the University of Strasbourg, France. She continued her education at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1970 (M.A.T), Georgia State University in 1987 (Ph.D. in Education). She studied in Oxford at Christ Church on English Monasteries and Cathedrals of the Middle Ages in July of 1997.

Anita taught French at Avondale High School in Avondale, Georgia, before moving into the Director's position at Georgia Regional Hospital, a state-operated psychiatric hospital that provides inpatient mental health, forensic services and care for developmental disabilities. After receiving her doctorate, she worked with Georgia State University, traveling around the United States, implementing methods to teach and work with the severely handicapped children.

She is a learner and teacher at heart, whether the subject matter be French, Special Education, history or religion.

Anita loved to travel. Her travels encompassed a missionary trip to Mexico in her teen years, a family trip to Mexico with her parents, siblings and their families in 1979, and went on a "Trip Around the World" with her parents, her brother Billy and nephew L'il Bob in 1982, which included Europe, Southeast Asia, and Japan. She especially loved to travel to England's churches and cathedrals and Scotland. Her final trip was to Iceland. She loved to explore new places and cultures and meeting new people.

She moved to Landrum, SC in 1995. She was involved with Meals on Wheels of Spartanburg, the Landrum Cemetery Perpetual Care Association, the Friends of the Library, Landrum Methodist Church, and the Episcopal Church of the Holy Cross in Tryon, NC. She was a member at Holy Cross Episcopal Church in Tryon, NC, which she dearly loved, and will be interred in their Memorial Garden.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at Holy Cross Episcopal Church, 150 Melrose Avenue, Tryon, NC 28782, and will be conducted by Father Robert Ard. The family will receive friends in the fellowship hall following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Friends of the Landrum Library, 151 S. Church Street, Spartanburg, SC 29306 or Operation Hope Landrum, P.O. Box 736, Landrum, SC 29356 / www.operationhopelandrum.org.

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