Colleen Jenkins Biggerstaff went to her heavenly home on Sunday, February 19, 2023.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Lee Odell Biggerstaff, her parents, Brantley Jenkins and Amie Harrill Jenkins, two sisters, Mary Jenkins Whitener and Dorothy Jenkins Butler, and two brothers, Brantley Jenkins, Jr. and Norman Jenkins.

She is survived by her son, William Douglas Biggerstaff and his companion, Jody Lowery Ledford, and her daughter, Amie Biggerstaff Sisk and her husband, Johnny Sisk. She is also survived by her grandson, Jordan Sisk and his wife, Casey Sisk, and her granddaughter, Emily Sisk Michael and her husband, Steele Michael. She is also survived by one great-grandson, Grayson Sisk, and one great-granddaughter, Ivy Grace Michael.

Colleen was born on November 1, 1926, in Leslie, Georgia and moved with her parents to Ellenboro when she was about 5 years old. She graduated from Ellenboro High School in 1943. She enjoyed a successful banking career for 37 years and took pride in serving her customers and community. She retired in 1989 from First Union National Bank and then served on the Board of Directors for several years following retirement.

She loved to do volunteer work and served as Chairman of the first March of Dimes Walk of America in Rutherford County. She volunteered at Rutherford Hospital serving as the bookkeeper for the snack bar, working in the gift shop, and comforting families in the ICU waiting room. In 2000, she was honored with the Extra Mile award for her contributions to the hospital. She was a charter member of the Rutherford County Pilot Club and served as treasurer for many years. In 1983 she and Barbara Walls shared the “Pilot of the Year” award. She also thoroughly enjoyed being the Pilot Club’s Clown for their events.

Colleen was a life-long member of Oak Grove United Methodist Church, in which she was very active and had a profound love for her church family. She was a youth Sunday School teacher and leader, sang in the choir, served as church treasurer for many years, served as Chairman of the Outreach Committee, and served on various other committees, including the Administrative Council. She served as the Church Historian and created the History Room at Oak Grove and in May 2019 the church lovingly honored by her renaming it the “Colleen J. Biggerstaff History Room.” She also enjoyed being a member of the ladies’ Gateway Circle.

She had many friends and hobbies and loved traveling and social events. She loved a good party and especially loved dragging her loving husband, Odell, along with her to political dinners and bank socials. She enjoyed traveling with her husband and friends and loved to talk about the time she and Amie flew to Dallas to meet J.R. Another favorite trip was when Doug took her and Odell to Washington D.C. on the train.

Colleen was really interested in genealogy and enjoyed tracing her family history. She wrote several volumes of essays and stories about her life and one of her most prized possessions is a collection of books that Amie had made for her that contain her life stories. She also loved to garden and to cook. She was happiest on Sundays when her family would gather around her table for lunch. She made thousands of pound cakes over the years for her friends and family. Every problem could be solved with a delicious piece of cake. Colleen was also an avid reader. She kept a list of every book she read and always looked forward to her monthly book club meetings with her friends whom they called themselves “The Biggerstaff Book Worms.” She never missed a day of reading her bible and her favorite verse was John 3:16.

Colleen made a profound impact on her community. She will be dearly missed and memories of her will be forever cherished.  

Memorial donations may be made to the Kitchen Renovation Fund of Oak Grove United Methodist Church, 1507 Oak Grove Church Road, Ellenboro, NC 28040.

The funeral service will be held at 2 o’clock on Friday, February 24, 2023 in the Oak Grove United Methodist Church, officiated by the Reverend David Hawkins and Reverend Chris Glawson.  Interment will follow in the church cemetery.  The family will receive friends at a reception to follow the service in the Fellowship Hall.

The Padgett and King Mortuary and Crematory is in charge of arrangements and an online guest registry is available at www.padgettking.com