Pearline Yvonne Walker Riggins Singletary. Photos provided

Contributed by Family Members

Pearline Yvonne Walker Riggins Singletary departed this life on Monday, June 13, 2022, at age of 90 in her home in Anniston, Alabama, following a long illness. The family had just celebrated her 90th birthday on Saturday, May 28, 2022.

Services were Saturday, June 25, in Anniston, Alabama.

Pearline was born on May 28, 1932, in Moultrie, Georgia, as the second of nine children. After graduating from Moultrie High School for Negro Youth, she earned a bachelor’s degree from Florida A&M University and a master’s degree from the University of Cincinnati. Pearline retired from the Cincinnati Public Schools in 1992, after 32 years of teaching, molding and touching the lives of thousands.

She met and dated Murray Riggins Sr. while at FAMU. They married and had two sons, Murray J. Riggins Jr., M.D., and Michael J. Riggins.  After Murray Sr. died, she reconnected with John Singletary, and they married in 1993.

Pearline Yvonne Walker Riggins Singletary. Photo provided

Mrs. Singletary was known for a legacy of service. She was a dedicated, longtime member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., pledging Beta Alpha chapter in 1951 at FAMU, and was heavily involved in the Cincinnati Alumni Chapter and sang in the Delta Choraliers.  She was an active member of New Prospect Baptist Church in Cincinnati for 24 years, serving as a Sunday School teacher and servant of the Academic, Education and Family Support Ministry, the women’s ministry and in other volunteer positions. Upon moving to Alabama, Pearline and John became members of Greater Thankful Missionary Baptist Church in Anniston.

She is preceded in death by her parents Anderson Walker Sr. and Pauline Hill Walker, her husband John Singletary, first husband Murray Riggins Sr., and brother Kenneth Walker. She is survived by four sisters, Odessa Hooker, Betty Holloway, Andrea Ice, Oretha Ensley (Mose Ensley) and three brothers, Anderson Walker (Claire), Frederick Walker (Lillie), and Woodrow Walker (Bonita).       She leaves to cherish: two sons, Dr. Murray Joseph Riggins Jr. (Dr. Rovenia Brock-Riggins), Michael Jerome Riggins (Marjorie Hall); five grandchildren, Kymberly Dawn Ayodeji (Olutayo ) Kisha Marie Hymes (Marvin); Nicole Yvette, Murray Joseph III (Marquitta) and  Matthew Riggins; eight great-grandchildren: Michael Jerome Riggins II, Quindarius Riggins, Jaison Riggins McGhee, KJ Kirby, Marq Riggins, Rhyen Riggins-Brown, McKenzie Grace Riggins and Jacob Hymes; two great, great-grandchildren, Kennedi Olivia Marie Clark and Camryn Kirby; and a host of nieces, nephews, other family members and close friends.

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