Ashley Elise Riggs

Ashley Elise Riggs was born on April 1,1973 in Abilene, Texas. On November 8th, 2020 she passed away after a long, courageous, inspirational battle with cancer. She graduated from Sanderson High School in Raleigh NC, the University of North Carolina and Illinois State University. She had a great love and talent for soccer and showed amazing grit, determination and passion on the field. Throughout her playing career, Ashley led her teams to the 1989 U16 National Championship, the 1991 4A State High School Championship and three NCAA UNC Women’s Soccer Championships, (1992-1994) and co-captained the team her senior year. Ashley was a highly successful and beloved coach at Cicero North Syracuse High School, Leesville Road High School, Meredith College and also coached many youth teams as well as ran summer soccer and character building camps. She had a gift and a passion for coaching, teaching and loving all her players and students. Ashley has forever impacted our lives with her love for us all, with her faith in God, and with her humor and zest for life. She will be forever missed but will live on through those whose lives she has touched. Ashley is survived by her life partner and wife, Beth Martin, parents, David and Marie Riggs, her brother and sister in law, Gresham and Jennifer Riggs, her sister and brother in law, Kelly and Keith Sandberg and her beloved nieces and nephews Maylin, Landon, Conner, Alaina and Zane. In lieu of flowers, two opportunities of giving in Ashley's honor have been set up. A Place at the Table in downtown Raleigh, provides community and good food for all regardless of means. Ashley spent a lot of time there volunteering which brought her great joy. One of the things A Place at the Table will be doing is dedicating a composting area at the restaurant in her name. If you know Ashley, reusing and recycling were her passion (sometimes annoyingly so). Donations can be sent to www.tableraleigh.org/donate or A Place at the Table P.O. Box 26205 Raleigh, NC 27611 (Please put Ashley's name in the memo of the check) Also, an annual award is being set up in honor of Ashley through the UNC Women's Soccer program. This award will be presented annually to a player that demonstrates hard work, perseverance and fight. Monies will also go to sponsoring high school teams and players who otherwise may not be able to afford to attend UNC soccer camp. Donations can be sent to: Educational Foundation (Women's Soccer) PO Box 2446 Chapel Hill, NC 27515 *put Ashley's name in the memo line and checks can be made out to Educational Foundation (Women's Soccer) There will be a large celebration of her life in April 2021. Please follow her journey on https://www.facebook.com/rallyforriggsy for updates and details.

Ashley Elise Riggs

April 1, 1973 - November 8, 2020