On Saturday, May 10th, 2025, a feast unlike any other was held in Heaven when Mary Wiggins Moore arrived to take over the kitchen. Famous for her fried chicken, squash casserole, and chocolate poundcakes, we feel certain even the Lord himself asked for seconds!

Born June 19th, 1937, Mary was the next-to-youngest of twelve siblings. Growing up in Graham, Alabama, she was never a stranger to hard work or mischief making. She was a woman for whom God broke the mold–one of a kind in beauty, grace, charm, humor, and especially, hospitality.

The phrase “to know her was to love her” has never been truer for anyone, and everyone who knew Mary in this life has a warm, fun, and loving story to tell about her. She worked in cosmetology, clothing manufacturing and sales, and restaurant and hospitality management, but her ten years as the Food Service Manager at Bremen High School was where she was able to minister to thousands of teens and staff members with her candor, wit, and standard response: “Jesus loves you and so do I!”

Mary loved her family and friends fiercely and wholeheartedly. She was generous beyond expectation, always offering a helping hand or a warm meal, and would rather serve than to be served until the very end. Her gardening skills were something to be studied, and every plant she ever touched, much like the lives of the people she encountered, grew and bloomed in the most beautiful way.

The gradual loss of her eyesight and memory kept Mary from doing all the things she enjoyed the last several years of her life, so knowing that she is finally Home with her Savior, helping to prepare a place for the rest of us, brings us comfort as the light of our lives faded away.

Mary is survived by her one and only daughter and best friend Judy (Duane) McManus, her three grandchildren-Allison (David) Key, Barrett (Emily) Kimball, and Ashton (Robert) Hughes, her great-grandchildren–Ada Key, Luke Key, Andrew Kimball, William Kimball, Charles Kimball, and Chloe Hughes, and her loving husband of 35 years, Don Moore, along with his children (Michelle Payne, Michael & Jennifer Moore), grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and extended family. Don and Mary had a special kind of love that was feisty, passionate, and full of laughter and adventure–the kind that never really dies. She is also survived by one sister, Margaret (Hobart) Rampy, and many nieces, nephews, and other extended family members.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Ucal Monroe & Annie Mae Jordan Wiggins, and 10 of her brothers and sisters: Curtis Wiggins, Leotis Wiggins, Aaron Wiggins, George Wiggins, Josie Wysner, Monroe Wiggins (who she credited often for her faith and strength in the Lord), Herbert Wiggins, Videra Brown, Lewis Wiggins, and Wilma Spruill.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday, May 13th, from 11am-1pm, at Hightower Funeral Home in Bremen, Georgia, followed by a Celebration of Life Service at 1pm at the Hightower Funeral Home Chapel.

Weather permitting, a graveside service will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.

Some people leave a mark on the world by the impact they have on one person at a time. The ripple effect of the life of Mary Lynn Wiggins Moore is immeasurable and will outlive many generations to come. As her family, we consider ourselves blessed to have known and loved her, to have learned from her, to have laughed and enjoyed so much life together. If ever a “Proverbs 31 Woman” walked the earth, it was our Memaw:

“She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: ‘Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.’ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.” (Proverbs 31: 25-31)