Betty Palmer Wigfield's Obituary
Betty Jane Palmer Wigfield, whose love, care and devotion encompassed not only her husband, children and family but her neighborhood, town, church and customers of Red's Service Drug, passed away on Wednesday evening, May 18, 2016, at a local assisted-living facility. She was 88.The visitation and funeral service will be held at the First United Methodist Church of Bayou La Batre on Monday, May 23. Visitation will begin at noon, and the funeral service, with Rev. J. Douglas Williams officiating, will begin at 2 p.m., with interment to follow at Oddfellows Cemetery. Betty is survived by her son, Jimmy Wigfield; her daughter Beth (Doug); grandchildren Drew and Ashleigh Nelson; and many other relatives and friends. She was preceded in her journey to Heaven by her father, Walter Palmer; mother, Pauline Palmer; brother, Harry Palmer; and her husband, J.M. "Red" Wigfield Jr., the longtime owner of Red's Service Drug.The pallbearers entrusted to escort her to her final resting place are Dubby Moore, Jeff Ladnier, Robert Ladnier, John Palmer, Doug Nelson and Jimmy Wigfield.Betty was born on Halloween Day 1927 in Turtle Creek, Pa., but moved to Mobile just prior to World War II when her father found work there. Because of a housing shortage, the family located in Bayou La Batre. There, on her first day at Alba School, Betty was trying to find a class when she came across a hall monitor named Red Wigfield. While trying to help her get her bearings, Red also managed to get Betty's phone number. The principal, Miss Alma Bryant, walked up and quickly told Red to return to his duties while she escorted Betty to class. When Miss Alma asked Betty what Red had said to her, Betty replied that he managed to get her phone number and added: "I think he is cute."A friendship soon bloomed into more and one day, while riding their bikes along the beach, Red and Betty stopped to rest and talk. With World War II under way, Red said he was going to enlist in the U.S. Navy, then come back to train as a pharmacist and open a drug store in Bayou La Batre. He told Betty he wanted her by his side and she said she would wait for him. When he was discharged after his tour of duty aboard a destroyer in the Pacific Theater, Red and Betty were married, moved to Auburn so he could go to pharmacy school, then moved back to Bayou La Batre and opened Red's Service Drug, where they worked shoulder to shoulder for more than a quarter of a century.Betty was remembered for her loving care and kindnesses toward the many neighborhood children on Hemley Road, her neighbors, her fellow church members, townspeople and customers of the drug store. She and Red helped many people, especially children, because when he opened the drug store, he told her he wanted to make sure no child in the area went without needed medicine, even if their parents weren't able to pay. They often accepted vegetables and seafood as payment, and quietly helped others who had financial needs.Her final conscious thoughts, hours before she passed away, were of her family and especially her granddaughter Ashleigh Nelson, who was to graduate with honors three days later from Alba Middle School. Among her final words were, "I need you to get me a card for Ashleigh." It was done.Betty was 88. Now she is ageless.Betty recently offered her son her last penny because he was between jobs. Now she has the countless riches of Heaven.Betty was a prayerful and Godly woman. Her prayers have been answered.Betty never complained despite suffering with congestive heart failure for many years. Now she is fully restored and has eternal life.We are sad, of course, and the world is different without her physical presence in it. But we must be happy for her. She is again with Red, her parents, brother, and other family and friends in Paradise. Her character, love, support and teachings touched many and will sustain many. She left a wonderful legacy she can be proud of. And we are proud to call her mama, grandma, aunt and friend.
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