Rachel Gayle Mercer Wiggins

Rachel Gayle Mercer Wiggins, left this world on, November 24, 2017, in Natchitoches, Louisiana, to be in the presence of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She was born Saturday, December 29, 1956, in New Orleans, Louisiana at Sellars Baptist Baby Home and was adopted a few months later by her parents Rev. Earl and Betty Mercer. She was a loving daughter, dedicated Mother, beloved sister and professional nurse. Rachel is survived by her children, Jeremy Wiggins of Grover Beach, California and wife Kim; Amanda Wiggins Impson of Monroe, Louisiana, and husband Johnny. Two grandchildren, Abigail Kathryn Brown and Anderson Gene Waalk, both of Monroe, Louisiana and one brother, David Keith Mercer of Natchitoches, Louisiana. She is also survived by several special Aunts, Uncles and cousins that she loved dearly. She was preceded in death by her parents, Rev. Earl D. and Betty Rockett Mercer; her paternal grandparents, Fred and Lottie Johnson Mercer and her maternal grandparents, Rev. Dewey H. and Aetna Elkins Rockett. She was a member of Trinity Baptist Church in Natchitoches, Louisiana. She attended Louisiana College in Pineville, Louisiana and graduated from Louisiana Tech in Ruston, Louisiana with a degree in Nursing. After becoming a single mother, Rachel enrolled in the Nursing program at Louisiana Tech in conjunction with Glenwood Regional Hospital in West Monroe, Louisiana and attained her Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) degree and continued working at Glenwood Hospital and graduated with her Registered Nursing (RN) degree in November of 1989, where she also received the Leadership Award for her graduating class. In 1992 she was voted as the Glenwood Regional Medical Center’s Employee of the Month and in 1994 was named as GRMC’s Outstanding Night Shift nurse. In the year 2000, Rachel began the ministry-job that she said was her greatest career joy at the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home in Monroe, Louisiana, as their full-time Nurse. She loved the work, the children, the cottage parents and administration during her ten year career at the Children’s Home. She retired from the Children’s Home in 2010 after complications from brain cancer that she had battled many years earlier. A Memorial service to celebrate the life of Rachel Gayle Mercer Wiggins will be held on Saturday, December 2, 2017 at 11 am at the Chapel of the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home in Monroe, Louisiana. A graveside service will be held on Friday, December 1, 2017, at 3 pm at Mt. Union Baptist Cemetery. Memorials may be given in her memory to the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home in Monroe, Louisiana, the Homes of Hope for Children in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, your local animal shelter or your local food bank. A special thank you to the staff, nurses and caregivers of Natchitoches Nursing and Rehabilitation Center for the care you have given over the past year and a half and to Hospice of Natchitoches.