Former Sag Harbor resident Daniel Wiggins of Bellport died on January 17 at his home, following a long illness. A respected member of the Southampton community, he was 81.
Born on December 14, 1928, in Walterboro, South Carolina, to Liza and Wyatt Wiggins, he was an entrepreneur who owned and managed Daniel Wiggins Landscape for many years in Sag Harbor, where he lived and raised his family.
He joined the First Church of God in Christ in Bridgehampton under the leadership of the late Superintendent Garland Thomas, with the encouragement of his first wife, the late Deaconess Gertrude Wiggins. Both were known as pillars of responsibility at the First Church of God in Christ. He served on the church’s trustee board, senior usher board and deacon board until his health failed him in 2001.
In August of 1988, when the church was under the leadership of Elder T.J. Williams Jr., he was given the title of “Father” Wiggins for his loyalty and hard work. Family members said this week he wore many hats, such as Uncle Daniel, grandpa, daddy, Mr. Wiggins, and Deacon Wiggins, just to name a few—but no matter what he was called he was respected and admired by all. He will be greatly missed, they added.
He is survived by three daughters, Connie Wiggins of Albany and Carolyn Martin and Gwendolyn Wiggins, both of South Carolina; three sons, Ronnie Wiggins and his wife Vernatene of Bellport, Danny Wiggins of Albany and Dennis Wiggins of Georgia; a stepson, John Fishburne of Bridgehampton; three sisters, Anna Belle Aikens, Coretha Bodison, and Edith and her husband Theodore Green, all of South Carolina; and 15 grandchildren—or “crumb hustlers” as he would call them—James, Isaiah, Kristal, Whitney, Cameron, Lee, Kean, Autumn, Shelby, Ayeshah, Jamel, Nicholas, Cesar, Jasmine and Mercedes.
He is also survived by three great-grandchildren, Sanai, Nyah and Jahcere; a sister-in-law, Dorothy Wiggins of South Carolina; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws, friends and church family.
In addition to his first wife, Gertrude Wiggins, who predeceased him in August 1990, he was predeceased by a second wife of 14 years, Sarah Wiggins, who died in July 2005; two brothers, Joe Wiggins and Theodore Wiggins; and two sisters, Louise Dewberry and Annette Hashburger.
The family was scheduled to receive visitors today, Thursday, January 21, at 10 a.m., at the First Church of God in Christ in Bridgehampton, where a funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. with the Reverend T.J. Williams Jr. officiating. Interment will follow at Southampton Cemetery.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Brockett Funeral Home in Southampton.
on Jan 20, 2010