Mother Burnell Riggins

Ms. Burnell Riggins entered eternal rest on Monday, December 23, 2024, at the Newberry County Memorial Hospital at the age of 99 years. She was born on September 15, 1925, during the presidency of President John Calvin Coolidge, our 30th President, in Atlanta, Georgia, to the late David Riggins, Sr. and Lillian Fair Riggins. She was the oldest of three siblings. She was predeceased by her sister, Mrs. Sarah Evelyn Riggins Carter (1987), and her brother, David Riggins, Jr. (1994).

Ms. Burnell received her formal education in the Newberry County public school system. She was a domestic worker until her retirement.

Mother Burnell accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior and joined the Brown Chapel AME Church, Helena, SC. She later moved her membership to her family church of Shiloh AME Church, Prosperity, SC. She loved her Church family at Shiloh, and they exhibited their love for her during her time there. She was very active in her beloved Shiloh by serving as an usher and singing with the Gospel Choir. The Gospel Choir represented the Shiloh Church family by singing at numerous churches throughout Newberry County and the state.

Ms. Burnell was the Treasurer of the Missionary Society and later selected to serve as the Mother of the Church under the Rev. Johnny Byrd, Pastorate, an honor she greatly appreciated. She received Appreciation Awards from the Church in 2007 and 2010. She also received the Women on A Mission Award in 2013. She was active until the last few months of this year. On Sunday, September 15, 2024, the Shiloh Church family celebrated her 99th Born Day in their Fellowship Hall.

Ms. Burnell life expanded the terms of seventeen (17) of our Presidents! From President John Calvin Coolidge to our first African American President Barack Obama and to our current President Joseph R. Biden. She had a full life. She loved her children, granddaughter, great- grandsons, great-great-granddaughter, nieces, nephews, cousins, Church family, and friends.

She is survived by one daughter, Brunell Riggins Gray, two sons, Charles E. Riggins and Johnie William Gray, all of Newberry, SC. One granddaughter, Terria Gray (Terry) Watts, Newberry, SC. Two great-grandsons, Terrell (Tymesha) Watts, Hopkins, SC., Tevin Watts, Newberry, SC., and one great-great-granddaughter, Tegan Watts, Hopkins, SC. One nephew, Bishop Chester L. (Deborah) Carter, Fayetteville, GA., one niece, Lisa Faye (Calvin) Davis, Silverstreet, SC., grandniece, Misty Riggins Jackson, and great-grandniece Shameka Riggins Jackson, all of Silverstreet, SC. Grandnephews Chester L., Cedric L., Robert, Michael, Reginald, and David Carter, Atlanta, Ga. And a host of other relatives and friends.

The family wants to acknowledge with special appreciation the support given to her by the late Mrs. Vera Sligh Weldon, Mrs. Connie Young Shannon, Rev. Dr. Elaine Eskew and Mrs. Dorothy Young Mitchell who made sure she got to and from her beloved Shiloh and other related Church activities.

A very special thanks to the untiring support of Mrs. Linda Glymph Boyd and Mrs. Janet Goudelock Glenn. You are greatly appreciated!!

YOU ARE LOVED AND YOU WILL BE GREATLY MISSED! MOMMA, GRANDMOMMA,
NANNY, AUNT BURN, AUNT BURNELL, COUSIN BURN, COUSIN BURNELL, MS.
RIGGINS, MS. BURNELL OR MOTHER RIGGINS.

Family will receive visitors at the Home 1314 Washington St, Newberry, SC 29108 

Visitation will be held 1-5pm Saturday December 28, 2024, Wilson Funeral Home, Newberry, SC

Funeral service will be held 2pm Sunday December 29, 2024, Shiloh AME Church Prosperity, SC.

Wilson Funeral Home of Newberry is assisting the Riggins Family.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mother Burnell Riggins, please visit our floral store.