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Fletcher E. "Jigger" Knight died peacefully Saturday, Aug. 30, 2008, at his home in Baynesville, with his wife at his side.
Nicknamed since birth, "Jigger" was born Sept. 30, 1923, in Baynesville at his grandmother's home. He was predeceased by his parents, Fletcher Jacob Knight and Ernestine Nash Knight England; and an infant daughter, Jacqueline Gay Knight.
Jigger was a sports enthusiast. He played varsity baseball at Washington and Lee High School starting in the 7th grade, and after his graduation from W&L in 1940, he played baseball with the Chesapeake League. In the 1940s, Jigger was a successful boxer, winning 32 straight matches. He attended the Newport News Naval Apprentice School and he enlisted in the Naval Air Corps in July 1943, shortly following the strike on Pearl Harbor. Jigger narrowly escaped death on at least two occasions during his military career.
Jigger was an accomplished salesman as a life underwriter with Southland Life Insurance Company for more than 30 years. He was leading agent in the country for ordinary life sales for many years and was a member of the President's Club.
A lifelong member of Popes Creek Baptist Church of Baynesville, Jigger professed his faith at an early age. He served as Sunday school teacher, superintendent, deacon board chairman, trustee and chairman of the cemetery committee.
Jigger was a founding member of the Montross Volunteer Rescue Squad. He and his wife, Mary, were trained cardiac technicians and they spent ten years of their retirement running calls throughout the Montross area. He served as chairman of the MVRS board of directors from 1989 through 2007. In 1965, Jigger was honored to receive the Eugenia Davis Urbanck Award for lifesaving. In 1993, he received the Community Builders Award from the Montross-Landman Masonic Lodge. In 2002, Jigger was given lifetime membership in the Montross Volunteer Rescue Squad. In 2008, Jigger received several awards, including an honorary membership in the Westmoreland Ruritan Club for devotion to the community. The honor of deacon emeritus was bestowed on him by the deacon board of Popes Creek Baptist Church. Jigger was highly honored to receive the Northern Neck Bar Association's Liberty Bell Award for his passion for helping his fellow man and his devotion to the community.
Jigger is survived by his wife of almost 65 years, Mary D. Knight; and their four children, Michael C. Knight and his wife, Molly, of Charlottesville, Suzanne K. Tolson and her husband, Billy, of Montross, Hope K. Bunch and her husband, Billy, of Warsaw, Peggy K. Beasley of Callao and her fiance, Michael Smith, and Jigger's son-in-law, Jeffrey Beasley Sr. of Montross. Jigger leaves behind nine grandchildren, Michael C. Knight II, Kathleen K. Barrett, Robert F. Knight, Tena T. Haydon, Rebecca T. Swann, Jill B. Indugula, Justin L. Bunch, T. Jeffrey Beasley Jr. and Jacqueline E. Beasley; and 13 great-grandchildren, Scott, Traver, Luke, Jackson, Stuart, Andrew, Austin, Megan, Chantz, Niam, Myan, Carter and Wyatt. Jigger is also survived by his siblings, Raleigh B. Knight of Dale City, Patricia K. Sanders of Warsaw and Willard C. Knight of Arlington.
A service will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, Sept. 1, at Pope's Creek Baptist Church, with interment in the church cemetery. Jigger's grandsons, Michael C. Knight II, Michael Barrett, Robert F. Knight, Virgil Haydon, Jeffrey Swann, Rajesh Indugula, Justin Bunch and T. Jeffrey Beasley Jr., will serve as pallbearers.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Montross Volunteer Rescue Squad, Box 1174, Montross, Va. 22520 or Popes Creek Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, c/o Elizabeth Nash, Box 592, Montross, Va. 22520.
Jigger was a loving, husband, father, grandfather and brother, who gave only the best of himself to his family and community. He will be sorely missed.
