Vivian Layman Ridley 10-8-1944 * 10-19-2024

 

With saddened hearts we announce the passing of our mother Vivian Ridley.

 

Vivian was a 1963 graduate of North Whitfield High School.

 

Along with her husband Leon they owned and operated many adventures during their 53-years of marriage. The last being Triple K Catfish House which broke a lot of hearts when it closed its doors in 2017.

 

Vivian was a strong hardworking woman.  She loved her family, her church, and her Women of Faith Sunday School class was very close to her heart. If you were blessed enough to be loved by her...You were blessed enough.  We don't know why we were so blessed to have this woman in our lives, but all we can say is that she was our gift and we were the lucky ones.  

 

Vivian was never happier than when she was cooking for a crowd, making sure you were fed, or checking to see if there was anything else you might need. She also loved to read, travel and spend time with her friends. She showed her love for the Lord everyday by serving others just as the Bible tells us to do.  As hard as she worked she always thought she should have done more.

 

This amazing Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, Aunt, Cousin, Sister, Sister-In-Law, and Friend will be missed by all who loved her.  We will feel her absence in our lives everyday.  But none more than Kim who was her sidekick and shadow.  Kim was always by her side, her front, her back and definitely kept mom on her toes.  All kidding aside, Kim was mom's comfort after dad passed away.  You never knew what those two were up to.

 

Vivian was preceded in death by her husband Leon Ridley.

Parents - Sam Layman and Oma Rogers Layman

Brothers - Hillard, Earmel, Lonnie, Kenneth and Seth Layman

Sisters - Ola Boyer and Decca Smith

 

Vivian is survived by her children

Kerry Ridley (Crystal), Kim Ridley, Kristi Hawkins (Jamie)

 

Grandchildren

Kameron Hawkins (Morgan)

Heather Rainey

 

Great Grandchildren

Keelan Elder and (baby-in-waiting) Evan James Hawkins

 

Sister

Lula Carroll

 

Sister-in Laws

Shirley Pierce (Tommy) and Vesta Ridley

 

Special niece

Paula Davis

 

The seven Smith children would like to say, Thank You Aunt Vivian for taking us in and loving us like we were your children.  We love you too!

 

We know there are many more not mentioned here that held a special place in Mom's heart.  We would like to truly thank you for being a part of her life.

 

Services for Vivian Ridley will be  Monday 10-21-2024 at Shawn Chapman Funeral Home in Chatsworth, Ga

Visitation: 11am until the funeral service at 4pm.  Internment will be in the New Hope-Kilgore Cemetery

 

In lieu of flowers and if you will please make your donations to: 

Walter Boehm Birth Defect Center.

975 E. 3rd. St.  Chattanooga, TN. 37403

 

Arrangements made with integrity by Shawn Chapman Funeral Home, Crematory, and Monuments.