Answering God's call to serve His purpose
On March 5, 2003, William S. Wiggins, Jr. answered the call to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ under the leadership of the Reverend Dr. Otis Moss Jr., Pastor of the Olivet Institutional Baptist Church in Cleveland, Ohio.
Rev. Wiggins joined Olivet in January, 1976. He formerly served as the Church School Superintendent of Olivet while commencing his duties as an Associate Minister at Olivet. Rev. Wiggins was blessed to serve in many capacities as a member of the Olivet congregation. He served as 1st Vice President of Usher Board #2, Sunday School Teacher, Chairman of the Board of Christian Education and Deacon and many speaking, teaching and leadership responsibilities.
Rev. William S. Wiggins, Jr. served his community and the wider church family. He was recognized twice by the Council of the City of Cleveland for outstanding commitment and devotion in assisting elderly residents and for his compassion in reaching out to a family in his neighborhood that met misfortune in Ward 6. Rev. Wiggins served as a Trustee for the Cleveland Baptist Association, and was honored in 2004 with the Cleveland Baptist Association Christian Education Worker Award. top
As a young child, he was baptized at the Antioch Baptist Church under the pastorate of the late Reverend Emanuel Branch, in Cleveland, Ohio. His formative years were spent at the Second New Hope Baptist Church, under the Pastorate of the late Reverend J. W. Allen. While at New Hope William served as a Youth Deacon, Junior Superintendent of Church School and spoke on several occasions as a youth guest speaker.
He was born in Franklin, Virginia and the family moved to Cleveland, Ohio in 1959. William graduated from Max S. Hayes High School in 1972. He then pursued a college career in architecture and environmental design at Kent State University. Later Rev. Wiggins received the Diploma of Theology in Black Church Studies from the McCreary Center for African American Religious Studies in June, 2004.Even though he faced medical challenges, with faith and endurance, he continued to pursue his studies at Ashland Theological Seminary. There he was pursuing a Master of Arts in Practical Theology degree, with a major in Black Church Studies, and a minor in Homiletics.
As a young adult, William excelled in the martial arts studying Tae Kwon-Do, Ju-Jitsu, Kung Fu and earned a Black Belt while competing in local, regional and national tournaments to advance his skills. William began his professional career at Gould Ocean Systems as a Tooling Engineer. He went to Production Pattern as a CAD/CAM Engineer and a Computer Operations Supervisor, and at Mold Master International he was a System Administrator/Numerical Control Programmer. At the time of his death, William was employed with the City of Cleveland, Division of Streets as the Street Permit Supervisor. His personality and his sense of pride were so significantly impacting that Commissioner Randell T. Scott, Division of Street Maintenance stated: “He had never met anyone in the Division who had made such an impact in such a short amount of time.”top
On September 8, 2001, Rev. Wiggins married Lisa James, a spiritually supportive wife with whom he shared a partnership ministry role as a mentor support couple for “Building Healthy Relationships (BHR)” - A program of the Olivet Health and Education Institute, under the direction of the Rev. Dr. Margaret J. Mitchell. Rev. Wiggins and his wife, Lisa, served as a part of the BHR “A-Team” and a mentor couple with: Brother Gary A. Morton, Rev. Dr. Margaret J. Mitchell, Deacon Mark and Sister Porcia Mainor and Brother Alfonzo and Sister Pertonya Daniels. Rev. Wiggins and Sister Lisa facilitated a course “Get on The Love Train: The Five Love Languages” and co-facilitated retreats: “Balancing your Love Triangle: Intimacy” and “Forgiveness.” Not only did they share a passion for the BHR, but they co-founded a ministry “Two As One” with the purpose to uplift Christian marriages. Together they shared a great commitment to help all couples build healthy relationships.
Rev. Wiggins departed this life December 27, 2007 after fighting a valiant battle with cancer. With his companion, Lisa, at his bedside, he found eternal rest in his Savior‘s arms. top