BREAK IT DOWN!
From time to time, I share a personal post. This week is one of those times.
There are many metaphors for the fleeting thing we call life. The list includes, but is not limited to:
A Journey
An Adventure
A Rollercoaster
A Garden
A Stage
A Book
A Battle
A Puzzle
Climbing a Mountain
Sunrise to Sunset
That’s 10; suffice it to say, there are many more.
A couple of months ago, I attended the homegoing service of a longtime family friend, who was a centenarian. A couple of weeks ago, I attended the funeral of a nonagenarian; the mother of one of my good friends. This past weekend, I paid last respects for a dearly beloved octogenarian cousin. Three Black women, wives, mothers, grandmothers; all three educators. Cumulatively, they amassed 284 years of life on this earth. So many of us were blessed and highly favored by their presence.
Indeed, each of them was extraordinary, and lived an amazing life. Nevertheless, this post is about Jean, and for her family. I met over 67 years ago, June 6, 1959, the day she married my first cousin, Jesse.
Jean Rhem Wiggins, age 88, was born on January 17, 1938, in Kinston (Grifton really), North Carolina, and entered eternal rest on July 1, 2026, in Durham, North Carolina. The years 1938 and 2026 are on opposite sides of the proverbial dash. The dash represents her life well-lived.
She leaves behind a legacy of love, perseverance, faith, and quiet strength. Jean carried the spirit of her hometown throughout her life: a spirit rooted in family, dignity, hospitality, and resilience. Those who knew her will remember not only the years she lived, but the grace and spirit with which she lived them.
Jean’s life was marked by devotion to the people she loved. She shared a meaningful life and lasting bond with her husband, Jesse, and she was the proud mother of her children, Cedric and Cynthia. Through them, her love continued to grow across generations. She was blessed with four grandchildren, Jessica, Shirai, CJ (Cedric Jr.), and Jason; one great-grandchild, Skylar; and two beloved goddaughters, Spring and Cheryl, each of whom held a special place in her heart. To her family, she was more than a wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, or godmother; she was a steady presence, a source of wisdom, and a reminder of the importance of faith, kindness, and togetherness.
Jean knew all too well what it meant to endure. After beating cancer, she subsequently spent years on dialysis. She faced the demands of illness with courage, dignity, and determination. The journey was not easy, yet she continued to show strength in ways both visible and unseen. Though Jean and I had known each other for decades, we really became close as she contemplated dialysis. After she decided to try it, she and I spoke almost daily. For years. Every once and a while, Jean would call me. But, mostly, weekdays, weekends, at home, traveling, on the highway, in hotels, in airports, from NY, California, Hawaii, Africa, Asia, Europe, I called Jean. It was our daily constitutional.
She enjoyed it. She didn’t understand why I did it, but she knew she enjoyed it. I did it for her. I did it for Jesse. I did it for Cynthia, and Cedric, and for Jessica, Shirai, CJ, and Jason, and for Skylar, and Spring and Cheryl. I did for my family because I knew they needed their matriarch. She was their rock, and anything I could do to help keep her engaged and fighting for another day would make them happy. That made me happy.
On June 30, I visited her at Duke Hospital and later at Hock Pavilion Hospice, where it was clear that after years of labor, treatment, and perseverance, she was tired. Even so, she was at peace with her decision to transition from labor to reward.
Jean’s passing is deeply felt by all of us who loved her, but her life continues to speak through the memories she leaves behind. Her laughter, her words of encouragement, her lessons, and her love will remain treasured gifts. She helped shape the lives of her children and inspired generations of students she taught. Her grandchildren and great-grandchild inherit not only her name and family history, but also the example of a woman who lived with purpose and dignity.
Those who were blessed to know Jean understood that love is often shown in simple, lasting ways: in a listening ear, a familiar voice, a gentle correction, a warm welcome, or a prayer offered at just the right time. She gave of herself in ways that mattered. Her presence brought comfort, and her memory will continue to bring strength.
As family and friends reflect on the life of Jean Rhem Wiggins, we give thanks for 88 years of life, love, and perseverance. From her beginnings in Kinston to her final days in Durham, and the days in New York, Greensboro, High Point, Columbia, and Richmond in between, her journey was filled with meaning. Though she has departed from this earthly life, the love she gave remains alive in the hearts of her husband Jesse; her children, Cedric and Cynthia; her grandchildren, Jessica, Shirai, CJ (Cedric Jr.), and Jason; her great-grandchild, Skylar; and her goddaughters, Spring and Cheryl, and a host of extended family and friends and classroom pupils.
Jean will be remembered with gratitude, honored with love, and missed beyond words. May her soul rest in peace, and may our entire family find comfort in knowing that her life was a blessing, her strength was an inspiration, and her legacy will continue to be a resonate forever.
Farewell; rest in eternal peace Jean! “In Loving Memory of Jean: A Life of Grace, Strength, and Devotion!”
I’m done; holla back!
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This post was augmented by the use of AI.
BREAK IT DOWN! 