UNITED STATES ARMY
WORLD WAR II - KOREA

Dr. Jefferson Wiggins, 87, of New Fairfield, CT passed away on January 9, 2013.

Dr. Wiggins was a well-known author, educator, lecturer, mentor, and community leader. He was born on February 22, 1925 in rural Alabama to Essie Mae Dawson Wiggins and Clemon Wiggins. As a son of sharecroppers, he had little opportunity to attend school.

He enlisted in the United States Army as a teenager, escaping a life of crippling poverty and racism.
Dr. Wiggins served in Europe during World War II. He was one of the few black officers of that era.

Upon returning from Europe, he was awarded a high school diploma in his hometown of Dothan, Alabama and went on to study Political Science at Tennessee State University. As a reserve officer, he was recalled to active duty during the Korean War.

After leaving the military, he taught for many years in both Alabama and New Jersey. His first book, White Cross, Black Crucifixion, documented his experience as the Director of Community Programs for a small, private New Jersey college during the turbulent 1960's. His memoir, Another Generation, Almost Forgotten, was his most recent work.

Since his retirement in 1991, Dr. Wiggins worked with school systems and colleges throughout Connecticut, serving as a mentor, guest speaker, and advisor. He was also a frequent guest speaker at military functions throughout the region, providing support for education initiatives and family support programs sponsored by the Connecticut National Guard.

He was privileged to hold a book signing at the Pentagon and was honored to be the keynote speaker at the United States Military Academy at West Point on the occasion of the 100th Night Dinner for the 2009 graduating class. In 2009, as the guest of the Dutch government, Dr. Wiggins delivered the keynote address at the 65th anniversary celebration of the liberation of the Netherlands by Allied forces during World War II.

In 1999, Dr. Wiggins was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters by Briarwood College, where he had been a Distinguished Visiting Professor. In 2001, the National Association for Multicultural Education named him Multicultural Educator of the Year for the State of Connecticut. In 2004, the Western Connecticut Regional YMCA honored Dr. Wiggins as a recipient of its prestigious "People of Distinction Award". In addition, he was the 2004 recipient of the Dr. Keren Alexander Community Service Award given by the Danbury Regional Child Advocacy Center to individuals who have made significant contributions to children and families.

An active member of his community, Dr. Wiggins was a former President of the Greater Danbury Coalition for a Community United and the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Wiggins Institute for Social Integrity, a non-profit organization committed to addressing the root causes of moral and social conflict within our society. He served two terms as a member of the New Fairfield Board of Education and was the recipient of numerous Presidential, gubernatorial and legislative awards and citations.
Along with his wife, Janice, he founded the Wiggins Fund, a donor advised fund of the New Fairfield Community Foundation. The fund supported programs and initiatives that benefited children, promoted multicultural education, encouraged diversity, enabled mentoring, or contributed to building a more open and civil society.

Dr. Wiggins is survived by his devoted wife, Janice, his sister, Freddie Mae Tucker of Dothan, Alabama, his brother, Glennie Wiggins, also of Dothan, a son, Kenneth Darryl Wiggins, his loving granddaughter, Felicia Wiggins of Hillside, New Jersey and her son, Malcolm, his grandson, Kevin Wiggins of Indian Head, Maryland and a host of grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will take place at the New Hope Baptist Church, 10 Aaron Samuels Blvd., Danbury at 11:00am with the Rev. Leroy Parker, Pastor and the Rev. Dr. Joni Paterson, sister in law of Dr. Wiggins, as co- officiants. Burial will be in the Mountainview Cemetery, New Fairfield.
The family will receive friends at the Green Funeral Home 57 Main Street Danbury.

Published in News Times on January 13, 2013

UNITED STATES ARMY
WORLD WAR II - KOREA

Dr. Jefferson Wiggins, 87, of New Fairfield, CT passed away on January 9, 2013.

Dr. Wiggins was a well-known author, educator, lecturer, mentor, and community leader. He was born on February 22, 1925 in rural Alabama to Essie Mae Dawson Wiggins and Clemon Wiggins. As a son of sharecroppers, he had little opportunity to attend school.

He enlisted in the United States Army as a teenager, escaping a life of crippling poverty and racism.
Dr. Wiggins served in Europe during World War II. He was one of the few black officers of that era.

Upon returning from Europe, he was awarded a high school diploma in his hometown of Dothan, Alabama and went on to study Political Science at Tennessee State University. As a reserve officer, he was recalled to active duty during the Korean War.

After leaving the military, he taught for many years in both Alabama and New Jersey. His first book, White Cross, Black Crucifixion, documented his experience as the Director of Community Programs for a small, private New Jersey college during the turbulent 1960's. His memoir, Another Generation, Almost Forgotten, was his most recent work.

Since his retirement in 1991, Dr. Wiggins worked with school systems and colleges throughout Connecticut, serving as a mentor, guest speaker, and advisor. He was also a frequent guest speaker at military functions throughout the region, providing support for education initiatives and family support programs sponsored by the Connecticut National Guard.

He was privileged to hold a book signing at the Pentagon and was honored to be the keynote speaker at the United States Military Academy at West Point on the occasion of the 100th Night Dinner for the 2009 graduating class. In 2009, as the guest of the Dutch government, Dr. Wiggins delivered the keynote address at the 65th anniversary celebration of the liberation of the Netherlands by Allied forces during World War II.

In 1999, Dr. Wiggins was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters by Briarwood College, where he had been a Distinguished Visiting Professor. In 2001, the National Association for Multicultural Education named him Multicultural Educator of the Year for the State of Connecticut. In 2004, the Western Connecticut Regional YMCA honored Dr. Wiggins as a recipient of its prestigious "People of Distinction Award". In addition, he was the 2004 recipient of the Dr. Keren Alexander Community Service Award given by the Danbury Regional Child Advocacy Center to individuals who have made significant contributions to children and families.

An active member of his community, Dr. Wiggins was a former President of the Greater Danbury Coalition for a Community United and the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Wiggins Institute for Social Integrity, a non-profit organization committed to addressing the root causes of moral and social conflict within our society. He served two terms as a member of the New Fairfield Board of Education and was the recipient of numerous Presidential, gubernatorial and legislative awards and citations.
Along with his wife, Janice, he founded the Wiggins Fund, a donor advised fund of the New Fairfield Community Foundation. The fund supported programs and initiatives that benefited children, promoted multicultural education, encouraged diversity, enabled mentoring, or contributed to building a more open and civil society.

Dr. Wiggins is survived by his devoted wife, Janice, his sister, Freddie Mae Tucker of Dothan, Alabama, his brother, Glennie Wiggins, also of Dothan, a son, Kenneth Darryl Wiggins, his loving granddaughter, Felicia Wiggins of Hillside, New Jersey and her son, Malcolm, his grandson, Kevin Wiggins of Indian Head, Maryland and a host of grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will take place at the New Hope Baptist Church, 10 Aaron Samuels Blvd., Danbury at 11:00am with the Rev. Leroy Parker, Pastor and the Rev. Dr. Joni Paterson, sister in law of Dr. Wiggins, as co- officiants. Burial will be in the Mountainview Cemetery, New Fairfield.
The family will receive friends at the Green Funeral Home 57 Main Street Danbury.

Published in News Times on January 13, 2013