Deacon Robert Wiggs Sr.

A Reflection of the Life of Deacon Robert “Bob” Wiggs Sr.

Robert Wiggs was born April 26, 1927 to both the late James Wiggs and Nellie Hodges-Wiggs in Lakeland, FL.  He attended the Florida Public School Systems until the fourth grade when he had to stop to work in the sugar cane fields and in 1946 at age 19, he moved to Trenton, NJ.  From 1952-54’, Robert Wiggs entered the United States Army during the Korean war and graduated from The Army Artillery Division as a Corporal overseas.  On August 28, 1955 he married Lauretta Locke and were blessed with two children, the late Robert Barry Wiggs Jr. and Sharon Charolette Wiggs.  Robert worked at Trenton Psychiatric Hospital and served as Head Cook #1, then becoming Head Supervisor of the Food Service Department before retiring after 36 years of service.   

From 1956-2003, Deacon Wiggs was a member of Bethlehem Baptist Church where he sung in the Men’s Choir and he served as Chairman of the Deacons Board and was a Charter Member of the National Baptist Deacons Convention.   In 1974 Deacon Wiggs was elected as President of the National Baptist Deacons Convention after past presidents, Deacon William McDuffie and Deacon Charles James Fitzgerald.  He was President of the Deacon’s Union of Trenton and the Vicinity; President of the NJ State Baptist Deacons Convention Inc, and Auxiliaries; Treasurer of the Usher’s Council of Trenton and the Vicinity and he was elected leadership of the Early Morning Prayer Service also known as “The Deacon Wiggs Early Morning Prayer Service.” Other achievements include certificates from the Mercer County Vocational and Technical School Supervisory Division and a Certificate of Outstanding Performance to the State of New Jersey from former NJ Governor William Cahill.

In 2003, Deacon Wiggs became a member of Macedonia Baptist Church and it’s Deacon Board and stayed a member for the remainder of his lifetime.  His favorite Bible verse is Psalms 150 “Praise the Lord, let everything that has breathe praise the Lord. Praise the Lord” and his favorite song was Jesus on the Mainline.  Deacon Wiggs is known for many things, his caring and kind heart, his readiness to help others, his loyalty and faithfulness to the church community and most of all, his cakes, and pies.  Deacon Wiggs enjoyed four things the most, God, his family, working in his yard and baking. 

Deacon Wiggs leaves to cherish his memory his wife Deaconess Loretta(Lauretta) Wiggs, daughter Sharon C. Wiggs (friend-Lisa); grandson’s Francis M. Davis (wife-Claudine); Robert R. Wiggs, granddaughter Keri N. Aulford; great-granddaughter Jovi C. Cox, great-grandson Francis M. Davis II, close Cousin Linda Rutherford (husband-Jimmy) and a host of other relatives and close friends. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Deacon Robert Wiggs Sr., please visit our floral store.