Obituary Vernon "Cootie" Lee Diggs Jr. was born March 7, 1957 in Sumter to the late Helen Clea and Vernon Lee Diggs Sr. Vernon was educated in the public schools of Sumter County. He was a landscaper for Shaw Air Force Base of Sumter SC until his health began to fail. He was a person with a heart of gold. He was loving and a very free handed man. His favorite hobbies was watching TV and eating.  In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by  a brother, Timothy Ray Diggs. Vernon departed this earthly life for his heavenly home on June 13, 2020 at his home surrounded by his family and loved ones. He leaves to cherish precious memories eight siblings, Johnnie Diggs of Sumter, SC, Alice (Anthony) Green of Sumter, SC, James ( Gloria) Diggs of Greenville, SC, Jimmy Diggs of Sumter, SC, Alethia Diggs of Sumter, SC and Eddie (Kyra Kelly) Diggs, Kendra Diggs and one stepbrother, Cruise (Shalisa Portee) Anderson of Sumter, SC.; a special aunt, Alice Pringle Dillion, uncle, David (Alpha) Clea of Rembert, SC, aunt Evelyn Sander of Rembert,  SC, aunt, Bertha Dinkins of Rembert, SC, aunt, Sue Kemble of Orlando, FL, two sister-in-law's, a special caretaker Patsy (Henry) Russell and a host of cousins, nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.   Public Viewing 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm Thursday, June 18, 2020 Whites Mortuary LLC 517 N Guignard Drive Sumter, South Carolina, United States 29150   Worship Service 11:00 am Friday, June 19, 2020 Whites Mortuary LLC Chapel   To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Vernon Lee Diggs, Jr., please visit our floral store.