Wanda L. Wigley • January 2, 2023
Wanda Lou Watson Wigley, 89, of Pensacola passed away on Monday, January 2, 2023. A
memorial service will be held at Pensacola Memorial Gardens Chapel with visitation at 1:00 pm
followed by the service at 2:00 pm on January 14, 2023. Chaplains David Lee and Ron Smith
will officiate.
Mrs. Wigley was a 1951 graduate of Anniston High School, and a graduate of Jacksonville State
University. She received her Master’s and Education Specialist Degrees from the University of
Alabama.
Mrs. Wigley was a pioneer in the field of Special Education in the State of Alabama and received
numerous awards and esteemed recognition for her work. Mrs. Wigley’s career in education
began as a classroom teacher at Etowah High School, she then served as consultant for the
Alabama State Department of Education then to coordinator of Special Education for Etowah
County, Attalla, and Gadsden City Schools in Alabama. She worked at Jacksonville State
University, serving as the Head of Special Education Department and professor. She retired after
working in education for 30 years.
Mrs. Wigley was preceded in death by her husband, George Milton Wigley, COL (R) USAR,
and her parents, Willie Mae Kuykendall Watson, William Hayden Watson, and great grandchild
Taryn Elizabeth Cox.
Survivors include her children, Mike (Pam) Walton, Flowery Branch, GA; Debra (Ron) Smith,
Midland, GA; Denise (David) Lee, Leesburg, AL; Lydia Dale (Stephanie Moore) Walton; Bay
Minette, AL; 7 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.
Mrs. Wigley retired to Perdido Key and was a member of the Mobile, Alabama Mardi
Gras Order of LaShe’s, and the Warrington, Florida BPOE #2108.
She was an avid Alabama fan and a lifelong Methodist.
Our mother loved her faith, family and friends. She volunteered and served in numerous
organizations and was charitable to all.
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