Funeral services for James “Sigh Sack” or “Big Jim” Rivers, conducted by Evangelist Rosetta Terry, were held Tuesday, September 11, 2012, at the Inez M. Henryhand Memorial Chapel of St. Stephen. Burial, directed by Henryhand Funeral Home, followed at Clara Johnson Memorial Estates of Cordesville.

Mr. Rivers died Thursday, September 6, 2012. He was born May 3, 1935, in Berkeley County, a son of the late Sigh Rivers and Larena Johnson. He was educated in the Berkeley County Public School System, attending Cordesville School. He served in the United States Army. He was married to the late Lillian Sullivan Rivers. While residing in Bronx, New York, he ran a bar. Later James said, “he worked for the federal government.” Survivors are: one daughter, Lavern Bryan of St. Stephen; one brother, Melvin Johnson (Dot) of Chester, Pennsylvania; one sister, Nancy Gamble of Chester, Pennsylvania; and two grandchildren. Pallbearers were Eric Lloyd, Danny Smalls, Thomas Haynes, Jr., Gary Lloyd, Tyrone Haynes, Roshelle Aiken, Christopher Lloyd, and Randy Smalls.