Willard Edward Caldwell of Charlotte, North Carolina

December 10, 1955 - November 19, 2020

Willard was born on December 10, 1955 to Melvin and Mattie Caldwell. He was the third boy and child number 6 of 8. What a mixture of love, jokes and rottenness he grew to be. Mischievous was not the word for Wiggie, he was always into something and it did not change when he became a young adult. He was always convincing and we fell for his tricks. He had enough gas to fuel a rocket ship.

Wiggie was preceded in death by his parents, Mattie and Melvin Caldwell and brothers Melvin Caldwell III and Thomas P. Caldwell.

He was a graduate of Myers Park High School. He furthered his education at Shaw University in Raleigh, NC and Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte. It was at Smith that he pledged the brotherhood of Groove Phi Groove, Bull Chapter, and nothing was ever the same. Industrial Engineering was his major and he could build anything... You imagine it and he could build it. As he grew older he had a side job where he contracted engineering/renovating projects in the Charlotte area.

Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.... The Caldwell Family are members of Ebenezer Baptist Church and Wiggie was active in every aspect of family growth in the church. He attended Sunday School, BTU, Bible School, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and was a Missionary.

Ask anyone about him in Clanton Park and you would hear words like bow legs, ladies' man, mama's boy, jokester, and good friend.

The Caldwell Clan is TIGHT and Wiggie always had the black pot ready to fry some fish. He thought he was a jack of all trades, he would say that he taught his nieces and nephews to drive and the rest of us (all older) he taught the rules of life (funny). Game night we knew that none of us could win, even if we had the winning hand. We always let Daddy win. Wiggie would roll his eyes up in his head and sing "everyday is a day of Thanksgiving" when he had the winning hand, but he never hollered Pokeno.

After a three year active duty stint in the 82nd Airborne at Fort Bragg, he enlisted in the 108th Army Reserve where he served for fifteen years. A total of eighteen years where lifelong friendships continued through today.

An avid sports fan, his favorite team along with the Panthers was the Minnesota Vikings. Wiggie served as Coach of the PAL Football team, giving back to the community and mentoring boys on how to stay out of trouble and become men and work in their own community. You would find him cheering on his sons, Brad and Quentin in football, his nephews Mitch and JoJo in football, his nephew Stanley in baseball, and his nephew Grant in NC State Football. That was hard for him as he had been a Carolina fan for years.

1981-2004 He was employed at Radiator Specialty as a Department Supervisor. He was employed by them for 23 years.

2005-2017 Received numerous awards for "job well done" at USPS. He was assigned as a Garageman, Letter Carrier, Clerk, Mailhandler and finally a Window Clerk. Once again, he formed many lasting friendships that lasted even after his retirement in 2017 due to health issues.

In addition to Groove Phi Groove, Wiggie held membership in the Grand Lodge Knights of Pythias, the NAACP, the Birthday Club, and was a former member of Sparkling Diamond Lodge-PHA.

He leaves to mourn:

Children: Kenekea Reynolds (Antionne), Quentin Graham, Willard Bradley Caldwell (Franchesca), and Shawnetta Hoyle (Rev. C.J.)

Grandchildren: Karrington, Braylon, Aaliyah, Willard Jr., Autumn, and Cayden

Sisters: Carolyn Gibson, Marilyn McClain (Pat), Anita Mobley, Doris Reed (Stanley), and Kenna Richardson (Gregg)

Nieces and Nephews: Bridgette, Mitch, JoJo, Patrice, Melody, Devin, Alicia, Damion, Little Stanley, Stephanie, and David

Grand Nieces and Nephews: Gabrielle, Grant, Malik, Hadiya, Mitch, Julian, Makani, Makaio, Little Devin, Mario, Lillian, Seraphin, Jacob, Esther, Zariah, Elijah, and Daveya

Sister-in-Law: Glenda Caldwell

Aunt: Mrs. Addie Porter

His companion in his last days- his dog... Leo.

Wiggie was a cool dude... he could talk the sweetness out of Sugar.

"We will miss him terribly"

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