Lois A. Wigden

Lois Lucille Avery Wigden was born to Merrill and Bethel Avery on September 28, 1926, in Cuba, NY, she was the 7 ^th of 9 children.

She always said that her crowning achievement was giving her life to the Lord Jesus Christ when she was a teenager. She married Rev. Harold Wigden in 1945 and they ministered together in churches and evangelistic services, and successfully raised six children. Lois served as the US Postmaster in Freedom, NY, for 6 years. Following her husband's death in 1976, she earned an Associates degree in business and went to work for Africa Inland Mission, both in Pearl River NY and in Clermont FL. She retired, long after the usual retirement age, to live in Penn Yan NY. As a member of Emmanuel Baptist Church she volunteered in many areas, including the church's Academy, and often cared for more elderly persons in the community.

She was a breast cancer survivor and lived alone until at the age of 88 she moved to Sweetwater, TN. After a few years in her own apartment, she moved in with her daughter. In June of this year, she moved into Life Care Center of Athens because of poor health concerns.

Lois was preceded in death by her husband, Harold Wigden, daughter Martha Russell, son Douglas Wigden, and grandson Patrick Russell.

Her immediate family left to cherish her memory include son Jehiel Wigden, of Fillmore NY; daughters Maryanne (James) Upton and Alice Wigden, both of Sweetwater TN, and Christine Wigden, of Philadelphia PA; sister-in-law Norma (David) Wigden, of Penn Yan NY; faux-adopted sister Geri Covell, of Hornell NY. She also leaves 6 loving grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and many loving nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friend on Wednesday, September 8, 2021 from 5:00 pm until 6:00 p.m. in the chapel of M.D.Dotson and Sons Funeral Home – Athens, TN Homegoing and interment services will be held in Acarde, New York at Freedom Cemetery.