Earl Marcus Wiggs Jr.

EARL MARCUS WIGGS, JR., 89, died at home in Memphis on October 1, 2012 after a long illness. A native of Chalybeate, Tippah County, Mississippi, he was born on February 19, 1923. He graduated in 1939 from Chalybeate High School and in 1943 from Mississippi College, where he was a band member, and where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Commerce. While at Mississippi College, Mr. Wiggs entered the V-12 officer training program of the United States Naval Reserve. Following midshipman school at Notre Dame, he served in World War II aboard LST-937 in the Pacific Theater, commencing his service at sea as an Ensign at the ship’s commissioning in September 1944 in Hingham, Massachusetts and continuing through and beyond the end of the war. He completed his U.S. Navy active service with the rank of Lieutenant (jg), serving as the ship’s Executive Officer and Navigator when LST-937 was retired from duty in Shanghai, China in May 1946.

Following his return to civilian life, after graduate study at the University of Mississippi, Mr. Wiggs taught business education in Chalybeate, MS; Ashland, MS; and Birdville High School in Fort Worth, TX.

On December 27, 1958, Earl Wiggs, Jr. married Patty Ruth Hollis, also of Chalybeate, and they moved to Memphis, where he worked as Accountant /Controller at Universal Warehouse Co., Inc. for 33 years. Together he and Patty raised four boys. A loving father who devoted hours to teaching them life skills like bicycling, swimming, and driving, by example he demonstrated for them the values of integrity and perseverance and encouraged them to observe, question and engage the world around them.

Following his retirement in 1991, Earl and Patty enjoyed extensive travel and performed dedicated volunteer service, including 14 years with MIFA Senior Programs delivering weekly meals to the less fortunate, for which they received special recognition on MIFA’s Day of Reflection and Service in 2007.

Mr. Wiggs was an active and dedicated church member throughout his life. He served as a deacon at First Baptist Church of Memphis and at Trinity Baptist Church of Cordova. For 70 years he was active in church choirs, serving two terms as President of the FBC Choir. He also taught Sunday School, including 16 years service as director and teacher of high school students.

Mr. Wiggs is preceded in death by his parents, Marcus Earl Wiggs and Myrtle Meeks Wiggs. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Patty Hollis Wiggs; his four sons, Earl Marcus Wiggs III (Rebecca) of Jackson, Mississippi; William Hollis Wiggs (Lois) of Knoxville, TN; Dr. Joseph Paul Wiggs (Alicia) of Franklin, TN; and Dr. Christopher Dean Wiggs (Holly) of Ridgeland, MS; five grandchildren, Madeleine Wiggs, Noel Wiggs, Catherine Wiggs, Ellen Wiggs, and Andrew Wiggs; two sisters, Louise Wiggs Elliott (R.G.) and Jean Wiggs Ketchum; three nieces, Barbie Elliott Adair (Jay), Donna Elliott Mowdy (Danny), and Betty Barber Anderson (Fred); two sisters-in-law, Ora Sue Hollis Hudson and Nancy Hollis Duncan (Joe); and a host of other nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

The family would like to give its heartfelt thanks to Dr. Hugh T. Overstreet for his diligence in providing skilled and compassionate medical care.

Visitation will be at Memphis Funeral Home at 5599 Poplar Ave., Memphis, Thursday, October 4, 5:00-8:00 pm, and at Trinity Baptist Church, 8899 Trinity Road, Cordova, Friday, October 5, 10:00 am.

The funeral will be held at Trinity Baptist Church, Cordova, on Friday October 5, 11:00 am, with burial following at 3PM in Union Cemetery, Chalybeate, Mississippi.

The family requests that memorials may be made to Trinity Baptist Church or to MIFA, 910 Vance Ave., Memphis, TN 38126.