M. ALEXANDER BIGGS, JR.
May 17, 1927 – March 19, 2008 |
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Maurice Alexander Biggs, Jr. died Wednesday, March 19, 2008 in Rocky Mount, NC.
Judge Biggs was born May 17, 1927 in Fayetteville, NC to the late Maurice A. and Rosa Fulghum Biggs.
After graduating from Fayetteville Senior High School in 1944, he attended Wake Forest University for a year and then served in the United States Navy in 1945-46 from which he was honorably discharged. Biggs returned to Wake Forest University and graduated in 1949 with a BA in English.
Among his youthful accomplishments, he attained the rank of Eagle Scout. He was the youngest person at that time to earn that award. Judge Biggs maintained his interest in Boy Scouts throughout is life serving in various areas as a young person and as an adult.
After graduation, he worked with GMAC until he entered Wake Forest School of Law in 1954. Biggs graduated second in his class and with honors in 1957 and was admitted to the practice of law in NC that same year. He began his legal career in 1957 when he joined the Institute of Government at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill as Assistant Director. There he worked with the research team that assisted the Bar Association’s Committee on Court Reform. He also taught the law of arrest, search and seizure. In 1959 Biggs left the Institute to begin practicing law in Rocky Mount which, except for two years of service as a member of the North Carolina Utilities Commission (1967-69), he was engaged in trial practice. His practice included numerous jury trials in the state and federal courts and several appearances in the North Carolina Court of Appeals, the North Carolina Supreme Court, the North Carolina Industrial Commission, The North Carolina Banking Commission, the State ABC Board, the Interstate Commerce Commission and the Federal Aviation Agency (with one appeal to the National Transportation Safety Board) and the United States District Court. His practice also included handling corporate and business transactions, mergers and acquisitions, issuance of securities, labor relations, and environmental law. He was a long-time member of the American Bar Association, the North Carolina Bar Association, the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers, the Seventh Judicial District Bar (former President) and the Nash-Edgecombe Bar Association. He is a permanent member of the Federal Judicial conference of the US Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals and for many years, he has held the highest professional rating given a practicing lawyer in the Martindate-Hubbell Law Directory.
Judge Biggs was appointed to the Seventh Judicial District Court Bench in 1991 by Governor James Martin. He held this position until his retirement in 1999.
Judge Biggs is a former member of the Board of Trustees of Wake Forest University, the North Carolina Aeronautics Council and the NC Capital Building Authority. He was a licensed airplane pilot and was Chairman of the Rocky Mount Downtown Airport Commission when that airport closed. Active in church and civic work all of his adult life, Judge Biggs was a member of Lakeside Baptist Church, a member of Benvenue Country Club, a member and former Chairman of the Salvation Army Advisory Board and a member and former President of the Rocky Mount Kiwanis Club. For as long as his health and voice permitted, he was active in choral singing in church choirs and civic choruses. Fiction writing, philosophy and music continued to be his avocations.
Judge Biggs is survived by his wife, Sandra Hedgepeth Pittman Biggs; his son, James and wife, Jaye, grandson, Alex, step-grandchildren, Nathan, Elliot and Ryan Thomas all of Rocky Mount; his daughter, Alison Biggs and her husband Michael Larkin of Milton, Mass.; his sister, Jane Biggs Mashburn and brother-in-law, Bill of Blacksburg, VA.; step-children Allen Pittman of Rocky Mount, Kent Pittman of Timberlake, NC, Gina Pittman Blackwell and husband, Tim; grand-daughter, Garvey of Guam; brother-in-law, David Hedgepeth, Rock Hill,SC; sister-in-law, Donna Lombardo of Tuscaloosa, Al, several nieces and nephews and cousins and caregiver, Peggy Grey. Judge Biggs is also survived by his beloved dog, Tucker.
A service to celebrate his life was held at Lakeside Baptist Church, Rocky Mount, 11a.m. Saturday, March 22, 2008.
The family received friends Friday night from 7 until 9 p.m. at the home of James and Jaye Biggs, 1601 Pinecrest Road.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Lakeside Organ Fund, Lakeside Baptist Church, 1501 Sunset Ave., Rocky Mount, NC 27804. On-line condolences to the Biggs family may be sent by visiting www.wheelerandwoodlief.com.
Arrangements are by Wheeler and Woodlief Funeral Home, 1130 N. Winsted Ave., Rocky Mount, NC.
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