Melva Smithhart Witt Wiggins

Funeral services for Melva Smithhart Witt Wiggins, 91, of Nacogdoches will be held at 2:00pm on Sunday, March 28, 2021 at Laird Funeral Home with Bro. Matt Murray, officiating.  Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery.  Visitation will be held from 5:00pm – 7:00pm on Saturday, March 27, 2021 at Laird Funeral Home. 

Melva was born on March 6, 1930 in Cushing, the daughter of Henry and Ida V. Haney Smithhart.  She spent her childhood right here in Nacogdoches and vowed to never leave.  She accomplished that with deep pride for her hometown and everything that came from being from The Oldest Town in Texas.  Melva was taught to love her family, take care those who needed it and to always stand up for and do what is right.  These are traits she passed on, lovingly, to her family.  Melva was also, and most importantly, taught of the love of Christ.  In 1943, she joined Fredonia Hill Baptist Church and remained a very dedicated member until her passing.  She loved her church and her church family and treasured the friends she made throughout the years.  Melva first married Buel C. Witt on March 5, 1948 and he preceded her in death in 1975.  She was a very strong and independent woman, and by God’s will, she met another gentleman whom she fell in love with.  She and Charles Ray Wiggins married in February of 1982.  Unfortunately, in August of 1998, upon his death, she found herself alone once again.  It was during this time when she dedicated herself even more to the family that she so dearly adored.  Melva was truly a very accomplished lady.  She worked for and retired from Southwestern Bell (ultimately AT&T) and was very proud of her years spent there as a service representative.  She also very loyal to her beloved Altrusa Club where she spent many years cooking chicken spaghetti or making bears for the children.  Melva was an exceptional cook and was happiest when the family was together with her table full of their favorite foods, telling stories and reminiscing through their years of memories.  She was an avid reader and never missed reading a single day of The Daily Sentinel.  Although she saw and was a part of many things in her long and prosperous life, she never quite figured out how to say goodbye because she would always find something else to say before you actually left.  This time, we have to say goodbye, but her unending love she felt for us all will forever be a part of the best memories we will ever have.

Melva is survived by her sons, Larry Witt and wife Sonja of Nacogdoches and Mike Wiggins and wife, Mandy of Dallas; granddaughter and sunshine in her life, Audrey Jane Wiggins; many special cousins that she loved very much and multiple friends that she made along the way.

She is preceded in death by her husbands, Buel Witt and Charles Wiggins; 2 children, Celia Ann and James Marvin; as well as her parents, Henry and Ida Smithhart.

Serving as pallbearers will be Dave Miller, Stan Bass, Bill Bryant, Jerry Hand, Brian Bass and James Ludwig.

The family would like to express a grateful and sincere thanks to the staff at The Arbor for the dedicated care they gave her and to Allyson Kinney, her precious cousin, who cared so tenderly for Melva and allowed her to remain in her home for many years without assistance from others.

Memorial donations may be made in Melva’s honor to Fredonia Hill Baptist Church at 1711 South Street, Nacogdoches, Texas 75964.

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