William Manning "Bill" Bigham

William Manning Bigham (Bill), a resident of East Bend, NC, died on January 12, 2026 at Novant Forsyth Medical Center in Winston-Salem, NC. Bill was born on August 30, 1946 at Charlotte Memorial Hospital to Dr. Roy Stinson Bigham, Jr. and Elvin Gochenour Bigham. He attended Eastover Elementary School, Alexander Graham Junior High and Myers Park High School. Bill was active in Boy Scouts at Myers Park United Methodist Church and also in the marching band at Myers Park High School.

He graduated from High Point College in 1968 with a B.A. in music education and became a band teacher in the Forsyth County School System. On August 17, 1968, Bill married Toni Marie Pope in the English Street Baptist Church in High Point, NC, and they remained married until his death.

After a number of years with Forsyth County Schools, Bill joined the administrative staff at Forsyth Community Technical College, and he stayed there until his retirement.

Bill always had an interest in first aid care, and during his college years, he lived at Sechrest Funeral Home next to the High Point College campus and made evening and nighttime ambulance runs with other employees. In later years, as he and Toni settled into a house in the Vienna area, Bill became a volunteer with the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department.

Bill and Toni joined New Philadelphia Moravian Church, and Bill used his musical background to play in many Moravian services involving bands, and he substituted as the church organist at different churches.

Bill is survived by his wife, Toni Pope Bigham, and his sister, Harriet Bigham Fickett (Alan) of Winter Springs, Fl. and his brother, David Michael Bigham (Robin) of Charlotte.

A memorial service will be held Monday, January 19, 2026 at 1:00 pm in the sanctuary of New Philadelphia Moravian Church. Memorial gifts may be sent to the church at 4440 Country Club Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27104.