Willie Mae Pirtle Higgs

1929 – 2016

October 3, 2016, Father God in his infinite wisdom dispatched an angel to Pine Meadows Healthcare facility to retrieve the soul of Mrs. Willie Mae Higgs, taking her to a place of rest to await the return of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Her funeral service was held on Saturday October 8, 2016 at 11:00 am at Mays Hill MB Church (Hickory, Valley, TN) with Pastor Dwight Rucker in charge.  Burial was in the Church Cemetery and Dixie Funeral Home (www.dixiefuneralhome.com) was in charge of the professional service.

Willie Mae Pirtle was born September 11, 1929…. the third child of twelve children born to the late Mr. John Will and Mrs. Vera Overton Pirtle. Five brothers and two sisters preceded her in death.

Willie Mae and her siblings were raised in Hardeman County, Tennessee,….. the Cloverport community, and attended the public schools. Their spiritual nurturing was obtained at Clover Chapel and Hill Field Baptist Churches.

August 8, 1980 Miss Willie Mae exchanged marital vows with Willie Z. Higgs and they were blessed with one son, Darnell, who was their pride and joy.

Willie Mae’s kind, generous, loving personality made our house a home of love, caring and sharing. She enjoyed helping others, visiting the sick and praising God in song. She loved her biological family and her church family, Mays Hill Baptist Church of Hickory valley, TN.

April 13, 1993 God summoned her husband, Willie Z, to rest after thirteen years of marriage.

Willie Mae’s transition leaves many fond memories for her son, Mr. Darnell (Mary) Pirtle, Denmark, TN; two brothers: Ernest (Margie) Pirtle, Whiteville, TN, William (Carol) Selmer, Dayton, OH; five sisters: Viola (Ezell) Coates, Muncie, IN; LouElla (Gene) Shannon-Pirtle, Indianapolis, IN; Rosetta Davis, Bolivar, TN, Helen Lewis, East St. Louis, IL, and Annie B. Pirtle, Brooklyn, NY; a special nephew, John Henry Pirtle, Minneapolis, MN. Six grandchildren, five great grandchildren and a host of nieces , nephews, cousins and friends. 

 Service Information