My mother, Jean Vaughan Wiggs of Wilson, NC, passed away on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. My father, Ashton Wiggs, preceded Mother in death in 2016. Their beloved poodle, Julie, preceded her "mama" in 2017, along with pets Candy, Tut, Clyde, and Winnie, all whom were part of our family. Mother grew up on her late parents' farm in Ahoskie, NC. She was the daughter of Julian and Nannie Godwin Vaughan; sister of Albert Vaughan of Kitty Hawk, NC; and daughter-in-law of my late grandparents, Jasper and Lucille Wiggs of Pine Level, NC.

Surviving is one son, Russell Ashton "Rusty" Wiggs (Lisa) of Mocksville, NC; grandchildren, Alec Ashton Wiggs (Jen) of Raleigh, NC, and Hannah Kaitlin Wiggs of Wilmington; family-like friends, Lee and Mercedes Horton and their family of Greenville, NC; Harry and Sharon Hamilton and their family of Greenville, NC; Darrell Huffman and his family, Tom, Molly and Joshua Sterbutzel of McLean, VA; Braxton and Beth Evans of Lucama, NC and their family of Wilson, NC; and Ronnie and Esther Brooke of Chesapeake, VA. Mother and Dad obviously had a "big" heart filled with love for many other special families and friends who became part of our family in our hearts. Mother often expressed how she hoped their extended families knew how much they were loved and how grateful she was for the love and concern they had shown for her well-being. Always know, dear families, how special you are to us, making our lives happy ones, and especially for the happiness you brought to our mother through your caring relationship with her.

Mother was a graduate of Atlantic Christian College (now Barton College) in Wilson and a retired teacher from the Wilson County School System. She dedicated 30 years of her life to teaching and nurturing eight-year-old, 3rd grade children at Winstead Elementary School on Downing Street in Wilson. To her, this beloved school, which closed its doors to education in 2022, was her "nest" always filled with the dearest, most beautiful children a teacher could ever wish for. Her entire 30-year teaching career and even her teaching internship while she was a student at ACC were in this 3rd grade "nest" at Winstead School. She had precious memories of these years (1961-1991) and her many following retired years, watching her children grow up and prepare themselves for a successful future. She never ceased being proud of her children and their many accomplishments. Mother was so grateful for their most treasured, continued presence in her life: visits in her home, birthday and holiday cards, phone calls, the great joy of directing many weddings for her grown-up once eight-year-old little girls. Many of her students faithfully sent her pictures of their families containing their children and even grandchildren. There were times on shopping trips when she would come face-to-face with a grown-up version of her children whom she had not seen in years. Recognizing each other, a reunion would take place, leaving Mother feeling that this moment in time had made her day a happy one, and she could add to her memories. Being a teacher and "school mom" to young children for those 30 years was truly a joy for her, a most memorable joy.

Mother, like my grandmother Vaughan, loved the outdoors and being in the sunshine and fresh air. After she retired, her hobby became her yard, and she was often seen working on it every day to keep it groomed. She did it all, as long as her health and age allowed her, except trimmings that required a ladder. She refrained from doing that task because her neighbors would give her a "tongue lashing" if they saw her on a ladder! Playing golf with my dad and enjoying the beauty of a golf course was her favorite away-from-home activity to do on a spring and summer afternoon. Mother said that with the help of Dad's lessons, she was finally able to win the Ladies Wedgewood Country Club championship in 1964 and had a trophy with her name on it to prove it! She loved her church and the joy of serving God, as she was often asked to do in her younger years. Being a member of the Adult Choir at the First Baptist Church and other churches of which she had been a member was probably her most pleasurable, happy activity of her week. She was always thankful for the opportunity to serve her church and God this way until her hearing loss became a real handicap. Sadly, she had to resign, but the most beautiful memories of her choir directors and choir friends- a caring family of which she was so proud to be a member.

For the convenience of her family and friends, at Mother's request, there will be no service. She will be laid to rest beside her dearly beloved husband, my father, in the Oliver Cemetery in Pine Level, NC. At a later date, our family will gather at the grave of my parents and share memories, love, and the gratitude in our hearts for God's gift of a loving, caring mother and father. If any wish to remember my mother, she and our family will be so grateful for memorials to The NC Baptist Childrens Home, PO Box 338, Thomasville, NC 27361-9911, The Oliver Cemetery, c/o Beebe Parker, PO Box 43, Pine Level, NC 27568, or to any animal rescue or charity of your choice.

Mother leaves her heart-filled gratitude and deep love: to her family and all her life-long friends she grew up with in Wilson; to her brother, Al Vaughan; her nephews, Quinn (Ellen), and Vince Vaughan; her great-nieces, Grace Liverman (Wyatt) and Abigail Vaughan; to her like-a-sister cousin, Joyce Dail of Virginia Beach, and many other cousins and their families in the Ahoskie and Virginia areas; to all of her husband's cousins and hometown friends he grew up with in Pine Level for whom she always had a special place in her heart; to every dear family and friend her loving and caring heart had adopted as her own extended family; to her wonderful, caring neighbors across the street from her, behind her, beside her, and up-and-down the streets from her, and her many friends she loved and adored all over Wilson; to her treasured First Baptist Church family, especially her Ruth/Mary Martha Sunday school Class sisters; to every one of her precious, very loved, now grown-up 3rd graders who she always called "my children" and really thought of them as her own, and to her long-time dear teacher assistant, Ruth Jones and her family, with whom she shared a long and treasured friendship.

Mother wanted me to share her own words of gratitude and love to each of you who are so special and dear to her and her family:

"I have loved every one of you dearly. May God Bless you always with His sweet love and care, giving you peace and joy at all times, because you know His Presence is with you." -Lovingly and sincerely, Jean

Remembering my mother, Rusty Wiggs.