Maxine Stallings Wiggins

Maxine Stallings Wiggins, 97, of 308 Sandy Cross Road, Hobbsville, NC died Wednesday, April 9, 2025 at her residence.

Mrs. Wiggins was born in Gates County on October 15, 1927. She was the daughter of the late Thomas Judson Stallings and Eva Ward Stallings. She was a lifelong member of Sandy Cross Baptist Church.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 70 years, Marvin Stallings Wiggins.

Surviving are her daughter, Dena Wiggins and her husband, Michael Ware of Arlington, VA; and her grandsons, Brendan (Emily) and Bailey Ware.

Maxine reveled in the history of her family and her community. She and her close friend, Carol Johnston, were partners in the pursuit of genealogical research and up until very recently, she could hold forth extensively on the familial relationships of everyone in the community, the history of the community and the history of her church. To take a ride with her in Gates County was tantamount to a travelogue experience.

Maxine was a force of nature and fiercely independent. Last summer she cut her own grass on a riding lawn mower (and drove it down the road and up a lane to cut the grass at the Wiggins homeplace), took care of her house, drove to visit Marvin on most days, drove to Elizabeth City to do her grocery shopping, visited with her daughter and her family and only accepted ‘help’ with great reluctance. (We can debate whether having her on the road in the last few years was a good idea but nonetheless she was.) Regardless of the context, “I don’t need help yet” was a constant refrain. Never without a project, she was always painting something, sewing something, renovating something, planting something, writing something or just simply planning what was next.

Dena and her family would like to express their sincere appreciation to her medical team, particularly Dr. Karl Brandspigel and Ms. Lori Kitner. It was Maxine’s fervent wish to stay out of the hospital and to receive care in her own home. We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to her extraordinary caregivers led by Lottie Rogers and including Sheila Stallings, Linda Elliot, Vanessa Butler and Elean Perry who took care of her in the last few months with unfailing kindness, grace and compassion. Without them and, for the last week of her life, the assistance of the team from Albemarle Hospice, she would not have been able to achieve her wish of staying at home. We are at peace knowing that her final days were lived, as she lived her life, on her terms. We are forever in the debt of those who made her wishes a reality.

Visitation is Sunday evening, April 13, 2025 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Miller & Van Essendelft Funeral Home, Gatesville, NC. Funeral services will be held Monday, April 14, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. in Sandy Cross Baptist Church, Hobbsville, NC and will be officiated by Rev. Brett Hutchins. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. All are invited to the family home at 308 Sandy Cross Road after the burial.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made to Sandy Cross Baptist Church, in care of Barbara Jones, 498 Acorn Hill Road, Sunbury, NC 27979.

Miller & Van Essendelft Funeral Home, 304 Main Street, Gatesville, NC 27938 is assisting the family with arrangements and online condolences may be made by visiting www.millerfhc.com