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I am taking my blog post title from my cousin’s, Monica, blog title.  I hope you don’t mind, Mon.  I use this title because that is what I feel I have:  a Godly heritage.

I spent the weekend traveling to and from Texas for my Mamaw’s funeral.  I was anticipating the day when I would receive the phone call informing me of her passing, but I was not expecting it to be this soon.  It hit me like a ton of bricks when I received the call from my father last week telling me that his mother, my Mamaw, had passed away.  She was 92 years old.  Here is a list of her life’s accomplishments.

Frances Berniece Parris Wiginton entered this world Nov. 9, 1917, and departed to be with her heavenly Father, Sept. 22, 2010, at age 92. She was the child of Oliver Walker Parris and Frances Terra Parris born in Santa Anna. In 1939 Berniece graduated from Texas Tech University with a degree in Vocational Home Economics. After graduation she began her lengthy teaching career in Itasca (TX), where she met her life’s love, Doyle Emerson Wiginton. They married Dec. 4, 1942, before Doyle left for World II. During the war she worked for Consolidated as a supervisor and counselor for Rosie the Riveters in Fort Worth. After the war they moved to Big Sandy, where she was a dedicated homemaking teacher in Hawkins and then Big Sandy for a total of 38 years. She loved her students, teaching three generations in Big Sandy, and encouraged them to set goals and reach their full potential in all areas of life. Her students excelled in state and national contests such as “Make it Yourself with Wool.” She was also a leader in Future Homemakers of America, encouraging her students’ participation in local, regional and state activities. Several students went on to develop strong leadership skills by holding regional offices.

Service in the education community was completed by three years on the Big Sandy School Board. She played an active role as Bible teacher and mentor at Big Sandy Church of Christ, encouraging many students to become Christians. The delights of her life were her two children and their families as well as an extended family of friends, students, and others she helped mold and shape by modeling the Christian values in which she strongly believed … God first, family and others second, and self last. Mamaw, as she was lovingly referred to by all, never lost her optimism, zest for life and love of telling others about Christ. Mamaw was preceded in death by her parents and loving husband, Doyle Emerson Wiginton.

She is survived by her children: daughter, Frances Jane Edwards and husband Stan; son, James Doyle Wiginton and wife Erma Lou; grandchildren, Shea Edwards Constantikes and husband Jim, Tyler Jay Edwards, Jordan Todd Edwards and wife Whitney, Ryan Emerson Edwards and wife Ashley, Richard Doyle Wiginton and wife Melanie, Kathryn Ann Reynolds and husband Brad, Vera Ranchinskaya (Wiginton) Pollard and husband Parrish. Great-grandchildren are: Ashlyn Ray Wiginton, Carter Doyle Wiginton, Braden Ford Wiginton, Kingston Cavender Edwards and Shelby Lou Reynolds, as well as many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Her family would like to thank her caregivers at Atria in Tyler and especially her wonderful Shay Ervin and Tasha Skillern.

As I prepared to make the journey to Texas I read through some of my dad’s Facebook messages left by friends and family.  I was truly amazed at the amount of people leaving messages who were former students of Mamaw’s.  I was even more amazed when I saw about twenty of those students at her celebration of life.  But I guess I shouldn’t have been amazed.  That is the kind of person Mamaw was.  She is one of the pillars in my godly heritage.

Mamaw taught me a lot of things.  She taught me how to play numerous games to include Solitaire, Double Solitaire, Rummikub, and her most loved game, dominoes.  Nights spent at her house were spent saying our bedtime prayers together.  She showed me how to truly talk with God.  She showed me the importance of friendships as she introduced me to numerous friends of hers who would also become friends of mine.  As I drove through the town of Big Sandy, TX memories flooded over me as I had vivid pictures of her, my cousins, my sister and me all driving to the train tracks to put pennies on the tracks to get get smashed by passing trains.  I could see her back yard where I would pick up pecans from the pecan tree and then shell them inside for a delicious snack.  I could feel the tight string of the bow as I would launch an arrow across the back yard.  I could smell her amazing cooking and see every room of that house as if I were standing in it at that moment.  As I fought back the tears and we drove past her house I pointed out to my children the driveway where my initials were engraved in the concrete. 

Mamaw taught me the importance of being a grateful winner and an accepting loser.  She taught me that it’s not about winning the game, but playing it and having fun doing it.  She connected those lessons to life and showed me that it’s most important to have fun living your life and playing the game.

As I stated at the graveside service the object of the game of dominoes is to go out first and carry the least amount of points on your dominoes.  As I placed the double blank domino on her casket I was unable to hold in my emotions.  Mamaw has won this game we call life and she has definitely gained the ultimate prize.  She gets all of the points.

Mamaw always asked me when I talked to her why God was letting her stay alive so long.  I believe she asked everyone this questions.  I believe God has a purpose for everyone.  I was informed several weeks ago that Mamaw had been talking and studying with her in-home nurse, Shay.  Shay was baptized just days before Mamaw died.  Mamaw had a purpose.  It was to raise godly children.  She nurtured her children in Christ and they in turn raised children who were believers.  That was her heritage.  To pass along Christ to her family and friends and further his kingdom.  She did this up until her last weeks on earth.

Mamaw will definitely be missed.  But her heritage will live on through her kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids.  I hope that a little of her has rubbed off on me so that when I leave this world I can play dominoes with her again.

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