Bessie J. Wiggins and her twin brother, Jesse B. Wiggins, were born in 1899 in rural South Carolina.  Bess and Jess, they called them, but Jess preferred to call his sister, “Bappy”– and it stuck.  Before long everyone just called her “Bappy.”  She hovers near the top of my list of “most unforgettable characters.”  My wife, Peggy, had told me about Aunt Bappy even before we married.  “I’ve never met anyone like her!” she remarked.  “And no one has ever heard her say anything bad about anyone.  She is the most kind, positive , and truly uplifting person I’ve ever met.”

We planned a trip to South Carolina for our first Thanksgiving together to attend a huge family reunion.  Peggy was so excited for me to meet the family– especially the amazing Aunt Bappy.  I looked forward to it, but prepared myself to not get my hopes up too high.  Nobody is that nice.  Her reputation, I assumed, was as much legend as fact.

Bappy was already a retired widow in 1978 when I first met her.  She was a classy dresser without appearing the least bit pretentious.  Her thin white hair was tucked neatly into a French bun.  Standing no taller than 5′ 2″, she had spent her life as a school teacher, beloved by decades of her students.  Actually, she was Peggy’s mom’s first grade teacher in 1930.

Bappy didn’t marry until she was around 60 years old, spending most of her life alone.  She had resigned herself to never getting married after her first beau had proven to be a complete charlatan.  But even the devastating heartbreak in her youth didn’t break her spirit.  She kept a keen sense of purpose in her calling as a teacher.  Her work with young children in the schoolroom and at the church gave her complete joy and satisfaction.  They were her children.

Nearing retirement, she got acquainted with a printer in Florence who became smitten with Bappy through her visits to his printshop.  Urban Patillo, twelve years her elder, one day popped the big question, but she  declined his proposal.  “No, Urban, I don’t think I want to get married.  But you should find someone and get married.”  Urban answered,  “Yes, I want to get married, and I’ve already found her– it’s you.“  The kind and noble widower proved to be the perfect partner for Bappy.  They were married in 1959 and lived happily together until his death in 1973.

The day after Thanksgiving, Peggy and I arranged a rendezvous with Aunt Bappy at her home in Florence.  She was a delightful, southern lady for sure.  She was interested in everything we said, and delighted us with her enthusiasm about our recent marriage.  I was enchanted by her dainty, high-pitched voice and her refusal live one moment without a smile.  She invited us to accompany her to a certain gift shop downtown where we were to pick out her wedding gift to us.

Aunt Bappy walked briskly down the sidewalk in Florence, South Carolina, toward the special gift shop with Peggy at her side.  I followed closely behind them  As we walked, several former students, now adults, waved and called out to her.  At least one even crossed the street to give her a hug.  I thought to myself, “This lady is no common schoolteacher.”

As we made our way down the city sidewalk we came to a small alley between buildings that emptied out across the sidewalk and onto the street.  Suddenly, just as Peggy and Bappy were about to step into the opening, a green Volkswagen bug raced down the alley, across our sidewalk, and onto the main street.  We halted just in time to keep from being struck by the careless, rude driver of the glowing green VW– a young man in far too much of a hurry.

Once we caught our breaths,  I was just about tear into him with something appropriate like, “That fool!  What’s his problem?  He almost killed us all!!” when I heard Bappy smile and interject, “Isn’t that car a beautiful shade of green?”

I kept my mouth shut.  Peggy leaned in to me and said,  “I told you it’s true.  I’ve never met anyone like her!” 

The amazing Aunt Bappy lived to the ripe old age of ninety-five.  Still, no one has ever heard her say anything bad about anyone.  The legend… IS fact.

“A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be loved is better than silver or gold.”  Proverbs 22:1