Muriel Dockery Wiggins

Born on October 6, 1932, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Muriel was the third child of Ethel née Lee and Zander Adam Dockery II. She attended the Philadelphia High School for Girls, aka Girls' High, and obtained her baccalaureate degree from Johnson C. Smith University in North Carolina. In 1956, Muriel married Roland A. Wiggins; they brought three daughters to this union. The family later moved to Amherst, Massachusetts, where she completed her masters degree and ABD doctorate in education from University of Massachusetts.

In 1990, Muriel retired from the University of Massachusetts as Associate Dean of Admissions and moved to Charlottesville where she and Roland could be closer to their first grandchild.

With her generous spirit, Muriel had a natural way of wholeheartedly embracing people from all walks of life, recognizing each person’s capacity for light and love, which she understood to be the core essence of life. She often went above and beyond to give of herself or her belongings to anyone in need. A huge advocate for education, justice and human rights, Muriel was highly committed to social concerns and very active in her community, volunteering for many organizations such as Innisfree Village, The Center at Belvedere, Friends of the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library, and serving on numerous boards including Habitat for Humanity, the City of Charlottesville Social Development Commission, the Barrett Early Learning Center, the Charlottesville School Board, as well as A Better Chance (ABC House) in Amherst, MA. In 2006, Muriel established the Reach Them to Teach Them program to assist elementary schools in developing stronger connections with pupils and their families. This program had a significant impact on students, families, teachers and administrators.

Muriel had a zest for life and cherished spending time with her family, friends and colleagues. An avid reader, she thoroughly enjoyed traveling with her book club to the beach. She took great pleasure in playing drums with the "Second Wind Band" at The Center, sharing stories through Toastmasters International, cooking elaborate meals for her family and friends, watching classic films with her grandchildren, solving New York Times crossword puzzles, traveling, fishing, water aerobics, playing cards, making ceramics and jewelry, and many other interests. A lover of music, she favored Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughn. She also studied cello and practiced her favorite songs Moonlight Sonata, Clare de lune and Für Elise on the piano.

In addition to her parents, Muriel was predeceased by her beloved husband, Roland, sister Elaine, and brothers Dwight “Jackie”, Ronald, and Zander III, granddaughter Zoe and niece Donna.

Muriel will always remain in the hearts of her beloved family. Holding her in loving memory are her daughters, Rosalyn Berne, Suzan Wiggins, and Carol Ross; grandchildren Ari Berne, Kaya Berne and Austin Ross; her sons-in-law Gordon Berne, Monty Ross and William Prindle; daughter-in-law Carla Arranaga; and a host of other family members and friends. Her light and love lives on in all of us.

A special thank you to her doctors of 30 years, Dr. Thomas Platts-Mills and Dr. Barbara Post. We are very grateful for the loving care you provided to her.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Innisfree Village at https://www.innisfreevillage.org or Hospice of the Piedmont at https://www.hopva.org.

Muriel’s celebration of life service will be held on Sunday, April 16, 2023 at 2:00PM, at Sojourners United Church of Christ, 1017 Elliott Ave., Charlottesville, VA 22902.