Friday, April 5, 2013

Rest in Peace, My Sister! A letter from Avis about the Death of Peachie Wiggins

Sharon "Peachie" Wiggins, a juvenile lifer, died on Sunday, March 24th of a massive heart attack at SCI-Muncy. She had been locked up since she was 16 and had served 45 years.

She was being reviewed to get out based on the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling last year that sentencing juveniles to mandatory life without parole is cruel and unusual punishment and is unconstitutional. Her supporters had already gotten her a job, apartment - everything- and were patiently waiting for her to be resentenced and released...

Her funeral was in Detroit where her family lives. Needless to say we are all reeling.

Peachie, although older than a lot of us was everybody's baby. She had been in since she was young and she had a very young upbeat spirit. She let us all know we could do this. The fact that she was still standing, let us know that we too, could stand.

She always encouraged us to go to school, get G.E.D's, learn trades, go to college, tutor, mentor, file appeals, apply for commutation, stop getting misconducts, stay sober, reach out to the community through give-back efforts and programs, and to strive for excellence in all that we do, and in all that we speak.

She was into robotics. She showed me sketches of her prototypes about 25 years ago.
Ironically, I watched a documentary on PBS about two weeks ago. Her designs were on par with the experts! That wa the kind of mind that was locked behind these walls, a scientific genious in the making.

Sharon "Peachie" Wiggins is a woman that I am honored to have met and humbled to have had the privilege of serving 17 years of my life sentence with.

When I read the story "Parable of the Talents" in the Holy Bible I think of Peachie and how our heavenly Father would be so happy that she did not waste hers, no matter what her obstacles, adversities and personal struggles. She steadfastly rose above them and when she saw a need, she stepped in and stepped up to help. I could go on and on and on... I'll just end by saying:

Rest in peace my sister. God Bless You. Job well done. Excellent use of the "talents."
Rest in Peace. See you in Eternity.
Avis Lee