Fillmore Library Receives Estate Estimated at Nearly $450,000

With libraries across the county facing severe budget cuts, fortune has struck the Fillmore Library with a donation that is estimated to be nearly $450,000.

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County library officials, city residents and library boosters were delighted when they learned that a longtime Fillmore resident, Lucille Wigley, 79, left her entire estate to the Fillmore Library.

“We are profoundly grateful to her for remembering us,” said Dixie Adeniran, director of the county’s Library Services Agency. “This will be the largest gift to the county library system ever.”

The announcement of the donation came shortly after county officials decided that unless they find other sources of revenues, they will shut down seven county libraries. Fillmore would have remained open, but would continue suffering reduced hours and staffing.

It will take three months for attorneys to liquidate Wigley’s assets and transfer the funds to the library, said Wanda Haynes, who is managing the closure of the estate.

Wigley’s estate includes a house, furniture and a car--all of which have been sold--and thousand of dollars in investments, Haynes said.

Although Wigley lived in Fillmore since the 1930s, few people in the community knew her, said Roberta Nelson, who used to play bridge with Wigley once a month.

“She was very quiet and reserved,” said Nelson, president of Friends of the Library. “She was not a library advocate, and I think she donated the money because she wanted to do something nice for the entire community.”

Wigley, who wrote her will by hand, died in January while still living in her home of more than 50 years in Fillmore. She was married to Earl Wigley, who for years owned a liquor store in the tiny community, Haynes said.

Earl Wigley died in the early 1980s. The couple did not have children, Haynes said.

Haynes said that while sorting through Wigley’s things she found several books and copies of letters Wigley had sent to local officials.

“It seems like she had plenty to say because she wrote a lot of letters to public officials,” Haynes said.

Wigley’s only relatives are a sister who lives in Kingston, Tenn., and a brother who lives in Aurora, Colo., Haynes said. The family was not upset that Wigley did not leave them any part of her estate, Haynes said.

“They knew what she wanted to do,” Haynes said.

Library staff and patrons said they were delighted with the generous donation.

“I still don’t believe it happened,” said Bernadette McDowell, who runs the Fillmore Library. “I’ve been in shock since I heard about it. It’s too good to be true.”

Once the donation is transferred to the library, the County Board of Supervisors will decide how the funds will be used, Adeniran said.

Although library officials have yet to provide recommendations to the supervisors, Adeniran said one of the library’s priorities is to increase library hours and purchase more books.

Adeniran also said she may suggest to the board that part of the money be invested so they can ensure the library’s future. The funds would only be used for the Fillmore Library.

Founded in 1916, the Fillmore Library has an annual circulation of more than 36,000 and its 1994-95 budget totaled $211,000, Adeniran said.

Situated at the intersection of Central Avenue and 2nd Street, the library serves about 20,000 residents in the Fillmore area and has about 28,000 books, officials said.

“I find her gesture to be extremely generous, and I’m delighted that we had such a person in our community,” said Fay Sawson who uses the library about twice a week. “People in the community will remember her forever.”