Joyce Mae Caldwell Wiggins

Joyce Mae Caldwell Wiggins, 82, of Leicester, went to be with the Lord in the early morning hours of January 2, 2024, surrounded by her children.

Joyce was born September 6, 1941 in the Sandy Mush Community of Madison County, NC to the late Roy Alonzo Caldwell and Bertha King Caldwell. Joyce was the wife of the late Marvin Woody Wiggins and was preceded in death by a son, Frank Mitchell West, a daughter, Wendy Yarborough, and brothers, Reed, Carroll and Ted Caldwell.

Joyce was a joy to be around. She was never idle and never sat still. Anytime the weather was good, you would find her outside working in her yard pulling weeds, planting flowers, feeding the birds, her ducks and her fish. Being outside was her happy place. She loved her Lord and enjoyed attending Trinity Baptist Church.

Her family was her greatest treasure and she “loved with all her heart”. Those left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Rebecca West Leicht (Eugene); son, David West (Vicki); grandchildren, Ben and Drew West, Tonya Horton (Nathan) and Daniel Wells; great-grandchildren, Ocie and John Horton; sisters, Dean Pressley, Gilda Messer and Judy West; brother, Keith Caldwell; as well as many nieces, nephews and friends.

Anytime you said, “I love you” to Joyce, she always responded with “I love you with all of my heart”. She was our treasure and our rock, who we will love forever with all our hearts.

The family will receive friends Monday, January 8 from 1:00 until 2:00 p.m. at the Patton Avenue Chapel of Groce Funeral Home, with funeral services immediately following. Pastor Allen Rash will officiate. Burial will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Joyce’s memory to Heart with Hands, PO Box 6444, Asheville, NC 28816, www.heartswithhands.org/donate.