In Memoriam Reginald L. Diggs, Co-Founder
Reginald L. Diggs, remembered by many as a “gentle giant,” lived a life marked by resilience, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to serving others. He passed away on March 20 at the age of 42 from a heart attack in Renton, Washington.
Born in New York, Reginald relocated to Seattle to be with his mother, Mary Diggs-Hobson. Together, they co-founded the African Americans Reach and Teach Health Ministry (AARTH) in 2002—a grassroots organization focused on bringing vital health education and resources, including HIV/AIDS awareness, to communities often overlooked by mainstream systems.
Diagnosed with HIV in 1995 while preparing for a kidney transplant due to a genetic kidney disorder, Reginald chose to live with transparency and purpose. He used his personal journey to uplift others, becoming a powerful voice in faith communities where conversations about HIV and AIDS were often silenced. His honesty and leadership paved the way for open dialogue and healing, helping to dismantle stigma and offer hope.
An ordained minister and associate at Faith Deliverance Assembly in SeaTac, Reginald founded Sanctuary Ministries to serve individuals facing addiction, illness, and marginalization. He was preparing to pursue a master's degree in theology at Seattle University at the time of his passing.
Reginald’s commitment to service extended beyond the pulpit. He worked as a manager at Starbucks, modeled professionally, and operated a modeling agency. But his true calling was always people. Whether mentoring young men in crisis or organizing community health fairs, Reginald’s presence was magnetic—grounded in empathy and fueled by faith. “He had a real passion for helping people,” said Bishop Lawrence Williams, Reginald’s father-in-law. “He worked with young men who might otherwise fall through the cracks, offering them guidance and hope.”
“His life was uncontained,” said former AARTH Board Chairman Peter Masundire. “Reginald was literally and figuratively a giant. He became a champion in the faith community.”
Reginald L. Diggs
I am pleased with the journey that I have taken.
It wasn’t easy but I tried to take full advantage of every challenge and opportunity.
Our Founders
Reverend Mary Diggs-Hobson cofounded African Americans Reach and Teach Health (AARTH) Ministry, a faith-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 2002, with her beloved son Reginald, to respond to HIV/AIDS and other chronic health conditions that disproportionately affect African and Black people in the diaspora. has officially retired.
Since 2002, Mary led the organization to new heights along with her staff as the organizers and hosts of state and regional health conferences for health providers. The team developed sponsors and delivered culturally appropriate behavioral health-change and clinical education and training for communities, organizations, and health institutions throughout Washington and five regional states including, Utah, Oregon, Alaska, Colorado, and Wyoming.
She led AARTH to the forefront of health equity as we navigate through the Covid-19 pandemic, creating a pathway for over 6,000 vaccines into the arms of Black and Brown people. Mary has officially passed the torch to Kathleen Wilcox and is confident that the amazing heartfelt work of AARTH will continue to grow and affect change in Health Equity.
Mary is an alumnus of RHEMA Bible College Tulsa, Oklahoma with a degree in Pastoral Ministry. Reverend Mary and her husband, Reverend Lee Hobson have served since 2010 on the Pastoral Leadership team at Damascus International Fellowship in Seattle, WA where Reverend James P. Broughton III, is the senior pastor.
Thank you, Rev. Mary Digg-Hobson, job well done. Reginald is smiling from above and proclaiming, REJOICE!