Patricia “Pat” Ann Wiygul Baggett, 67, was called home on Thursday, October 25, 2018 from her residence in Tupelo. Born in Tupelo on Feb. 15, 1951 to Rev. Hershel Wiygul, a prominent United Methodist minister and Faye Franks Wiygul, Pat lived in several Mississippi towns growing up. She graduated from Middleburg High School in Durham, North Carolina while her father was advancing his education at Duke. Pat furthered her education with a BA in Social Work from Mississippi State University, later receiving her MA in Counseling from Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA. Pat embarked on a lifelong career in substance use counseling and mental health therapy that spanned 40 years. She was a skilled therapist whose sincere compassion and academic brilliance encouraged, inspired and empowered thousands of struggling souls over the years. Her early career was spent with Region III Mental Health (now LifeCore) and her last 34 years were with the Behavioral Health Unit at North Mississippi Medical Center, retiring two years ago. A licensed Professional Counselor and Marriage and Family Therapist, Pat was very active and involved with the local recovery community. Pat loved her inner spirituality and drew strength and purpose from reading professional writings, literature, and philosophy. She loved to spend time with family and friends and was a consummate journalist and writer. A grateful family and community express thanksgiving for a lifetime of service to others above self. A celebration of her life will be held at 3PM on Saturday, November 3rd at the Tupelo Chapel of Holland Funeral Directors with family and friends sharing special memories. Visitation will from 1PM to 3 PM prior to the service. The service may be viewed at www.hollandfuneraldirectors.com/livestreaming at the time of the service and for 60
days thereafter. Pat is survived by her children; Anthony Baggett of Tupelo, Erica Baggett and wife, Cora of St. Louis, Missouri; Aimee Brake and husband, Jason of Nashville, TN,; her three grandchildren who affectionately knew her as Bibi, Nicholas Baggett, Lillian “Lily” Brake and Alden Brake; her siblings, Britt Wiygul and Glenda Sassar both of Tupelo; her mother in law, Minnie Nell Ray (Nanny) of Hamilton, MS; and her many friends everywhere. She was preceded in death by her parents, Hershel and Faye Wiygul and the father of her children, Lloyd Baggett. Memorials may be made to the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee (https://www.elephants.com/in-memoriam
