Frederick Diggs III

Fred was raised in Prospect Primitive Baptist Church and confessed his faith at 7 years of age. At age 8, he was then baptized in the Susquehanna River by his grandfather, the late Reverend Henry E. Corbin, pastor of Prospect Primitive Baptist Church. Fred sang in the choir, taught Sunday school to other children and later became the church clerk. While in junior high and high school, Fred participated in football, track, basketball and was an avid sports fan. He later started playing golf which became his favorite. Fred loved learning how to boat and fish. He also obtained his license as a scuba diver and as a fixed wing pilot.

Fred graduated from William Penn High School in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and attended West Virginia State College in Institute West Virginia from 1964-1965. In 1964 Fred married his first wife, Diane Walker and had two lovely daughters, Eileen and Renee.

Fred worked at the Pennsylvania Dept of Highways, then later he moved to Cleveland, OH, to work for Warner and Swasey as a machinist. In 1968, Fred moved back to Harrisburg to work for IBM. This trip back to Harrisburg was short lived, as IBM transferred him to Miami, Florida for work and he met his loving wife Vivia S. “Sherry” Diggs. While in Miami, Fred joined the Second Baptist Church of Richmond Heights and served as the president of the Celestial Choir and as a Trustee. Fred moved to Birmingham, Alabama where he was promoted to Marketing Manager for IBM Birmingham.

In 1981, Fred and Sherry moved to Houston, Texas where Sarah Elizabeth was born. Fred Joined Champion Forest Baptist Church and later joined Greenspoint Baptist Church where he served in the choir, as a trustee, and, as a member of the building committee. Fred started a discipleship/ leadership training class in 1995 and trained over thirty-five men and women at Greenspoint church and around the city of Houston.

On February 23, 1999, God made it clear to him that he was calling him to another level of service as a Minister of the Gospel. Fred obediently followed where he felt God was leading him. God confirmed that calling and Fred served Him faithfully by discipleship training of others, and preaching and teaching the word of God.

Fred became the Associate Pastor at Saint Paul Baptist Church in the Woodlands prior to founding Northeast Houston Community Church where he pastored for twenty years. On September 17, 2000, Fred felt God’s calling to serve full-time, which led him to plant a church in the community where he resided. On April 15, 2001, the Northeast Houston Community Church was founded and held its first service. Fred was ordained by his cousin, Dr. Clarence Williams of Macedonia Baptist Church.

He leaves to cherish his memory his beloved wife, Vivia “Sherry” Diggs; three daughters, Eileen Diggs-Wells, Renee Diggs, and Sarah Diggs; four grandchildren, Khari Barton, Derick Collins, Shayna Wells, and Elizabeth Diggs; and two great grandchildren, Syriah and Kayson. In addition, Fred is survived by his nieces and nephews, Lisa McManuels, Chervone Quick, Doug Mahone and David Feliciano III; first cousins, Johnsie Silas, Deborah Craig and Toni Thompson; along with a host of other relatives and friends.

A visitation for Frederick will be held Friday, June 21, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Brookside Funeral Home, 13747 Eastex Freeway, Houston, TX 77039.