The last of the “Greatest Generation to ever live,” Ollie Ree Miller Wiygul was born March 9, 1925. Mrs. Wiygul passed from this life to her heavenly home on December 10, 2023, in Fulton, Mississippi. Mrs. Ollie Ree possessed a character no other words can describe except as a Proverbs 31 Godly Virtuous Woman. Indeed, when God chose her to be the wife of Quinton Roosevelt Wiygul, God bestowed favor on us all and to those who will become her descendants. She was asked quite often what was her secret to living 98 years? Mrs. Ollie Ree always answered, “to love the Lord and do what is right.” She worked her entire life to provide monetarily for her family, food for our bodies, and the Word of God for our souls.
Mrs. Ollie Ree enjoyed making clothes and quilts for her children and grandchildren. God and the Great Depression formed and developed a character in her we all should strive to possess. She saved, worked hard, gardened and canned food, and was never wasteful as is completely evident in all of the butter tubs, tin foil and glass jelly jars adorning almost every shelf. Throughout her life, she has loved and lost many family and friends but through every single hour of her life, she never waivered, never faltered, and never doubted in her love of God and faith that He would carry her through.
Mrs. Ollie Ree created a home for her family which was a great source of comfort, warmth, and love. We all knew walking into her presence was walking into safety, love, and complete acceptance. She possessed the heart of a lioness and the gentleness, sweetness, and love of an angel. Mrs. Ollie Ree showered many new marriages at her home over the years. She opened her home and kitchen to family, neighbors, and friends. She fed just as many of our friends and neighborhood kids as she did anyone else. She was always determined to have Sunday dinner for us her entire life. Sunday was her favorite day of the week, not just because she would be hosting her family for a big meal, but it was the Lord’s Day. Mrs. Ollie Ree loved her church and church family. She was the last founding member of Trinity Baptist Church (70+ years) since its inception in an old chicken house in downtown Fulton. Mrs. Ollie Ree loved listening to her favorite preachers and gospel music, being with and loving her family, and spending time with her best friend, Mrs. Rubye Love. Mrs. Rubye and Mrs. Ollie Ree maintained a close friendship for 80+ years that was truly a gift from God to each other. They have spent many, many hours talking, reminiscing about their childhoods, sweethearts, children, and grandchildren, and attending social outings together.
Mrs. Ollie Ree Miller Wiygul is survived by her son, Jerry Wiygul (Rhonda), granddaughters, Michelle Harris (Jason), and Lacie Snider (Billy), great-grandson, J. Harris, great-granddaughters, Emma Harris and Selah Edge, and many nieces and nephews.
She was the last surviving child of Houston and Ethel Miller’s fourteen children. She was preceded in death by her husband, Quinton Roosevelt Wiygul, daughter, Linda Wiygul Senter (Jeff), great-granddaughter, Kently AnaRee Harris, grandson-in-law, Tim Edge, siblings, Chester Miller, Pete Miller, JT Miller, Bobby Miller, Ellie Hue Miller, Naomi Wouldridge and her infant twin sister, Eula Mae Johnson, Jimmie Mae Miller, Elizabeth Morrow, Pearl Boldin, Flora Lee Miller, and a second infant sister.
As God describes a virtuous woman in Proverbs 31 as being clothed with strength, dignity, and speaking with wisdom and faithful instruction, this was Ollie Ree Miller Wiygul. Her husband, Quinton, praised her all his days. Her children have arisen today to call her blessed. She has surpassed all other noble women and her honor has been bountiful through her humility and fear of the Lord. Her legacy will carry on for generations to come. Ollie Ree Miller Wiygul has now gathered her glorious reward in heaven.
Funeral services honoring her life will be 1:00 pm Tuesday, December 12, 2023, with visitation beginning at 11:00 am in the Senter Funeral Home chapel. Burial will be at Itawamba Memorial Gardens. Senter Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.
