Martha Ann Riggs Wilson

COLUMBIA Martha Ann Riggs Wilson was born on June 21, 1921, to Ottie Alice Shepherd and Thomas Salkeld Riggs in Roanoke, Virginia. She was the oldest of five children. Her family moved to Charleston during the Depression where she met and married Reginald Darlington Wilson on February 3, 1948 at Grace Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. Ann attended Winthrop College for one year and graduated from the College of Charleston in May, 1944 with a degree in English. She was inducted into the Old Timers Society of the College in March, 1994 and attended her last meeting with great effort on her part in March, 2013. She attended law school with her husband at the University of South Carolina in Columbia in 1948. She and her husband owned Chester Concrete and Distributing Company in Chester, S.C. from 1955 – 1969. He was elected Mayor of Chester in 1960 and served in that capacity for 8 years while his wife was a devoted city servant in her capacity as First Lady of Chester. Through work with the city and the Chester Concrete and Distributing Company they enjoyed their participation in the City Municipal Association and the Concrete Masonry Association. They sold the concrete business and moved to Columbia in 1971. Ann worked with the Department of Agriculture from 1973 until she retired in 2000. As the oldest child living through the Depression, she loved to “mother” her siblings all who predeceased her except for her brother, William Henry Riggs of Charleston, who is one year her junior. She was known as Aunt Marshee, Mawsee, Martha Ann and Ann by her family members. Among her many accomplishments were devoted wife, mother and grandmother. Her Sunday lunches were famous with her family and friends. After her husband Reg passed away in 1981, she was fiercely independent and lived alone for more than 35 years in the home they purchased when they moved to Columbia. She was an avid reader and loved to cook. The Wilson family lived in Charleston during their early years of marriage, moved to Rock Hill in 1952, and settled in Chester in 1954 where they lived the majority of their married life. In Chester, the family attended St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. Ann was instrumental in seeing her husband and two children confirmed as Episcopalians in 1962. After moving to Columbia, she attended Trinity Episcopal Cathedral and enjoyed the ladies in the Bishop Finlay Chapter until she was unable to drive to the nightly meetings. She is survived by her son, Reginald Darlington “Rex” Wilson, Jr. and his wife, Paula Brafford Wilson and her daughter, Martha Ann “Mitten” Wilson Brown and her husband, Frank Reginald Brown, III, M.D. She has five grandchildren: her namesake Martha Ann Riggs Wilson Baggett, wife of William Jonathan Baggett; Kelly Taylor Wilson Hall, wife of Michael William Hall of Trophy Club, Texas; Reginald Darlington Wilson, III and his wife, Courtney Christian Hansberry; Frank Reginald Brown, IV of the Isle of Palms, S.C.; and Riggs Wilson Brown. She has one great-granddaughter, Charlotte Taylor “Lottie” Hall. She has nieces, nephews and Godchildren in California, Florida and Charleston. Carol Brown with Home First Senior Care and her team of caregivers have been constant, loving and devoted companions in the home since 2009. The family is deeply appreciative and thankful for the wonderful, compassionate and loving care to their mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who passed away at home on Saturday, April 9, 2016. Ma’Ma’ will be deeply missed by her family. She lived a long and happy life. The memorial service will be held at 4:00 p.m. Monday, April 11, 2016, at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral. Burial will be at 2:30 p.m. Monday, April 11, 2016, in Elmwood Cemetery. After the memorial service, the family will receive visitors at home, 1328 Palmer Road, Columbia. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Trinity Forward Campaign, 1100 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC 29201 or the memorial of one’s choice. Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, is assisting the family.