Rita Gail Bagby-Riley was born February 23, 1955 to the martial union of the late Arthur Bagby and Lois Edmond-Bagby. She departed this life October 23, 2025.

Rita was a 1973 graduate of Texas High School. She accepted Christ at an early age and was an active member of the Martin Chapel CME Church in Redwater, Texas where she served as an announcement clerk. She later united with the Macedonia Baptist Church where she faithfully served on the decorating committee, food committee and sang in the choir until her health declined. She married Darnell Riley in 1975 and to this union two children were born.

Rita was employed with Day & Zimmerman for over twenty years. She worked for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for over five years and retired from Red River Army Depot in 2017. She was a volunteer at Christus St. Michael Hospital until 2024.
Rita loved being outside and spending time with family.

She is survived by her husband, Darnell, of (50) fifty years, her children April Potts (Antoine), Audra Riley and Roy Butler (Shelby), her grandchildren: Jazmin, Ava, Ayden, Raeland, Amarie and Rhea, her sisters: Elma Soloman and Linda Moore and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral services: Thursday, October 30, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at the Macedonia Baptist Church - 158 Payton Road                                                         Visitation: Wednesday, October 29, 2025 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at the mortuary.