A memorial celebration was held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 12, 2020, at the First United Methodist Church of Columbia for Arthur Wilman Pigott, 84, of Columbia, who died on Wednesday, Nov. 18, after a lengthy illness.

He was born on Dec. 3, 1935, in McComb. He attended Millsaps College where he sang with Pop King’s Millsaps Singers.  He was a member of Kappa Alpha Fraternity and graduated in 1957 from LSU and the LSU School of Banking.

He served as President and Chairman of the Board of the Bank of Prentiss from 1967-1979. He served as President of First Federal Bank for Savings in Columbia which later became First Southern Bank. After leaving the banking system, he became a financial advisor for American Express and an arbitrator for FINRA and NY Stock Exchange.

Upon retiring, he donned a top hat and tails for fun as a chimney sweep. Then wanting to give back to the community, he enjoyed substitute teaching in the Columbia Public Schools where he was fondly known as “Pops.”

His service as a Sunday school teacher for 40 years reflected his love for God. He was a Lay Minister in the United Methodist Church and served as Lay Leader under three ministers at First United Methodist of Columbia. Music was an integral part of his life and he was a quartet and choir member as well as a soloist.

He was preceded in death by his father, John Douglas Pigott; his mother, Patty Lou Williams Pigott; four brothers and one sister.

Survivors include his loving wife of 61 years, Carlene Winborn Pigott; four children, Patty Wynn Alford (Mike), Charles Martin Pigott (Shannon), Kelli Leigh Stehling and Todd Brantley Pigott; nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren who lovingly called him Pops.

He expressed thanks to God for a loving family and an exciting life.