Coach Art Briles Fired at Baylor, Ken Starr Demoted

Baylor University has fired Coach Art Briles amid several sexual assault investigations involving his football players. Baylor also demoted school President Ken Starr from the Clinton impeachment days. Briles was fired Thursday after a report by Pepper Hamilton, a law firm hired by Baylor last fall, found the school "failed to take appropriate action to respond to reports of sexual assault and dating violence reportedly committed by football players. The choices made by football staff and athletics leadership, in some instances, posed a risk to campus safety and the integrity of the University." Briles coached the Bears to 50-15 during the past five seasons under Briles, 65-37 over all, winning a pair of Big 12 Conference championships. It appears Briles' son, Kendall Briles will remain with the team as offensive coordinator. Coach Briles is the son of the late Dennis Ray & Wanda Nelle McCain Briles.

Mark Edward Briles Dies

Mark Edward Briles Age 49, passed away suddenly on April 25, 2016, in Sacramento where he was born on July 3, 1966. Memorial services: Fri., May 20, 10:30 AM at George L Klumpp Chapel of Flowers, 2691 Riverside Blvd., Sacramento. Reception to follow at Faith Presbyterian Church in Sacramento . He is survived by his beloved sons Milan and Zachary, parents Edward and Nancy Briles, brother Jeff Milan Briles and nephew Alexander. 


Death notice published on May 14, 2016 from the Sacramento Bee.

Jacqueline Claire Briles

Jacqueline Claire Briles (Jackie), 95, of Redondo Beach, California, passed away on March 30, 2016, from complications following surgery. Visitation will be held from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm April 13, 2016 at Green Hills Mortuary. The funeral service will be held at 12:00pm April 15, 2016 at Riviera United Methodist Church. Rev. Mark F. Sturgess of Riviera Methodist Church will be officiating. Private graveside service will follow the funeral at Green Hills Memorial Park at 2:00 pm. Jackie was born in Los Angeles California on December 19, 1920 to the late Mildred and Jesse Sturgeon. Preceded in death by her husband Paul Briles (Married on May 18, 1946), sister Harriet. Jackie is survived by her 3 sons, Richard, Robert and Gregory, 5 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren, nephew Jim Lindsey, niece Genie Le Clerk and other family and Helen Aquino a close friend for 70 years.

Virgil Strickland "Strick" Briles III Dies

Virgil Strickland "Strick" Briles III, 56 years of age, of Polkton, passed away on Monday, April 18, 2016, in FL. The family will receive friends from 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm, Friday, April 22, 2016 at Rocky Mount Baptist Church. The memorial service will be at 4:00 pm in the church sanctuary, officiated by Rev. Billy Hill. "Strick" was born June 16, 1959 in Mecklenburg, NC to the late Virgil Strickland Briles Jr. and the late Shirley Doris Arrington Briles. 

Survivors include his daughter, Heather (Michael) Barbee of Locust; two sons, Brandon Briles of Polkton and B. J. Briles of Coon Rapids, MN; former wife, Kim Briles of Stanfield; fiancee, Pamela Petitte of Brandon, FL; and one grandchild, Kallie Barbee.

Leona Rush Wood Dies

Leona Rush Wood, 96, passed away peacefully on April 26, 2016 at her home. Family will receive friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 28, 2016 at Pugh Funeral Home, 437 Sunset Avenue, Asheboro.A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on April 29, 2016 at Pugh Funeral Home Chapel in Asheboro with Reverend Lynda Ferguson officiating. Burial will follow at Pierce's Chapel Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery. Native of Randolph County and was a daughter of the late Jefferson H. Rush and Nannie Miller Rush. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Wood was preceded in death by her husband of over 60 years, Lewis Edward Wood; sisters Doris Parrish, Aileen Burgess, Wilma Kindley, and Frances Wall; and brothers Clarence Rush, Reverend Dr. Dallas Rush, Odell Rush, and Lester Rush. Survived by her four daughters, Brenda McLeod and husband Ray Von of Denton, Barbara Buchanan and husband Ronny of Greensboro, Janice Kite and husband Rick of Asheboro, and Eddie Ruth Stone and husband Herman of Charlotte. She had six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Mrs. Wood is also survived by a sister, Lalah Bowman and husband Allen of Sophia; sisters-in-law Loberta Rush of Liberty and Wilma Rush of Winston-Salem; and several nieces and nephews, including Debbie Thompson who was an exceptional caregiver for Mrs. Wood.

Grandmother is Aurelia Roella Briles Miller

Rickie Lee Rush

Rickie Lee Rush, 66, of Carthage, passed away on Friday, April 22, 2016 at Duke Regional Hospital in Durham. A memorial service will be held from 2:00 until 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 30, 2016, at the home of Ron and Vickie Antrium. Born in Randolph County, NC on August 19, 1949. Preceded in death by his wife, Deborah Ritter Rush; father, John Rush; brother, Johnny Rush, and sister, Deborah Luther. Surviving are his son, Mickey Rush and wife, Cheryl, of Robbins; mother, Levena Farr Norris, of Asheboro; sisters, Vickie Antrium and husband, Ron, of Asheboro, Janie Kellam, of Southport; brother, Ruben Rush and wife, Barbara, of Level Cross; grandsons, Ethan Rush and Nick Rush, both of Robbins.



Direct line to Mary Briles Rush

Matthew Ryan Briles

Matthew Ryan Briles, 29, passed away April 10, 2016. A visitation will be held Friday, April 15th from 2-4PM with a memorial service at 4PM at Rainbow Mennonite Church. Born October 15, 1986 to Noah and Fonda (Crittenden) Briles. Preceded in death by his grandfathers, John Briles and Bobbie C. Crittenden; and uncles, Bobby, Theodore, and Lance Crittenden. Surviving are his parents, Noah and Fonda Briles of KCK; brother, Jonathon Briles of KCMO; grandmothers, Josephine Briles of Visalia, CA and Florence Moots of Minden, NE; aunts and uncles, Laurie & Vaughn Cook of Minden, NE, John Briles of Emporia, KS, JoAnn Briles-Klein of Wichita, KS and Lois (Mike Peters) Briles of KCMO, Joe and Debbie Hoag of Yates Center, KS, Sandy Donner of Plainview, NE, as well as a number of other great aunts and cousins.

Thomas L. Briles Dies

Thomas L. Briles passed March 27, 2016 after a long illness.  Family and friends may gather Thursday, March 31, from 4 pm until the time of memorial service at 6 pm at O. R. Woodyard South Chapel 1346 S. High St. Inurnment at a later date Franklin Hills Memory Gardens. Born in Berlin, Germany on Aug 16, 1962 and grew up in CTSurvived by his parents, Charles Lee and Barbara Briles; son, Charles (Jordan) Briles; brother, Mark (Kelly) Briles; longtime companion, Rose Stapleton; stepchildren, Bonnie, Vicky, and Matthew Stapleton; nephews, Robert Briles, Jonathan and Christopher Doski; many other relatives and friends. 

Jewell Boyd Briles

Jewell Boyd Briles, of Auburn, Alabama, passed away on March 7, 2016 after a sudden illness. A memorial service will be held at Village Christian Church Saturday, March 12, 2016 at 1:00. Mrs. Briles was born in Tryon, NC on March 2, 1925 and is the oldest child of Claud Clifton Boyd and Corinne Feagan Boyd. Her husband Connally O. Briles of Fort Worth, TX preceded Mrs. Briles in death in 2010 (m. June 1, 1945). Her two sons, Scott C. Briles of Gwinnett County, GA and Timothy H. Briles of Fauquier County, VA, survive her as do her four grandchildren Morgan W. Briles, Mason W. Briles, Jack H. Briles, and Austin C. Briles. 

Ruth "Rusty" Russell Briles Dies

Jamestown- Ruth “Rusty” Tucker Russell Briles passed away Wednesday March 2, 2016 at Hospice of the Piedmont in High Point. Graveside Funeral Services celebrating her life will be held 11:00 A.M. Friday March 4, 2016 at Floral Garden Park Cemetery in High Point. Born September 28, 1926 to the late Howard Martin and Ina Tucker Russell. In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her sister Barbara Russell. Survivors include Henry "Lee" Briles of the home; daughter Bobbi Briles Watkins and Tim of Jamestown; brother Marty Russell and Nancy of High Point; nieces Ivey Jane Kiestler and Terry of High Point and Kimberly Hobson and Barry of Kernersville; nephew Franklin Russell and Desirae of Greensboro and their families; “grandchildren” of the heart Wendy Hinshaw Hefner and Kenny of Taylorsville and Hunter Hinshaw and Kristina of Garner and their families, and many extended family and friends. Pierce-Jefferson Funeral Home in Kernersville is handling the arrangements.