Ossie Lee Dillard

Ossie L. White-Wiggins-Dillard was born on September 24, 1939, in Terrell, Arkansas, the only child of Sarah Mullin-Brown and Booker T. West Sr. In 1955 she moved to South Bend, Indiana, to live with her father and her beloved stepmother, Geneva L. West, whom she affectionately called “Lil Momma.”

A graduate of Central High School in South Bend, she continued her education at Indiana University South Bend before relocating to Los Angeles, California, where she completed her studies in Business Administration at Los Angeles Trade Technical College and Mission Valley Junior College. Ossie retired after 27 years of dedicated service with the Los Angeles Unified School District.

She accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized at nine. A lifelong and devoted Christian, Ossie lived her faith with quiet strength, evangelizing and singing of God’s goodness to all who would listen. Her personal motto, “Pray about All Things and Believe God for Everything,” and her favorite scripture, Philippians 4:13—“I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me”—guided her through every season of life.

Gifted with a beautiful singing voice, she was inspired by the Christian teaching of her father, the late Rev. Booker T. West Sr., and embraced her musical ministry with humility. She shared her gift on local and national stages, performing as a soloist for the National Baptist Convention USA, Inc., the National Missionary Baptist Convention, and the National Ushers Convention, among many other venues.

Ossie was married three times. In 1971 she wed Sergeant Claude E. White, who preceded her in death in February 1990. She later married Samuel E. Wiggins in December 1998; he passed in August 2014. In November 2022 she united in marriage with Columbus Dillard, cherishing their bond until her passing. She remained a devoted and faithful wife to each of her husbands, caring for them with love until the end.

An active member of Greater Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles and later Second Baptist Church of Las Vegas, she served faithfully in numerous ministries and was a 2003 graduate of the School of Evangelism. God called her home on March 7, 2026.

Ossie was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, a sister, and her first two husbands. She is survived by her husband Columbus Dillard of Las Vegas, Nevada; her daughter Claudette Graham of Washington, DC; her grandson Ryan Waddy of Washington, DC; her loving brothers Lawrence (Linda) Brown, James West, and Jeffrey L. West; her sisters Lucille Brown and Renee (William) Bolden; two goddaughters, Erica Battle and Yulanda (Todd) Coleman; her daughter-in-law Lynda Wiggins; and a host of nieces, nephews, extended family members, dear friends, and her church family who will always cherish her memory.