Lilesville native Tangula A. Diggs has been a pillar in the school system, church and community since 1991.
“My personal mission is to try to help empower, encourage and educate all people, while equipping them to make sound decisions that promote self-love,” she said.
Diggs, an educator in Anson County Schools, is an evangelist, motivational speaker, missionary, facilitator, mentor and volunteer.
“I am part of the village children; was reared by mother, grandmother and any other adult during that time,” Diggs said. “Both my grandmother and mother were missionaries at heart, meaning, when one person didn’t have, they did their best to provide.”
Diggs also said that there was no such thing as a hungry child in her neighborhood.
“The need to give, assist and help others was engrained in me as a child; so, I look for opportunities to assist wherever I am,” she said.
After spreading her wings, she returned home, deeming her move back to Anson County in 2015 as fate. Since Diggs transitioned back from Scotland County to help care for her mother in 2015, she has worked alongside Commissioner Vancine Sturdivant.
“As an educator, my heart always goes out to children,” Diggs said.
When she heard about Toys For Tots, she began volunteering.
“To say that my mind was blown at the quality and level of giving by Commissioner Sturdivant and her team would be an understatement,” she added. “It was then that I knew I had to be a part of the movement. Toys For Tots opened the door for me to assist with other endeavors.”
Sturdivant said that Diggs has donated to the clothes and food ministry for several years, also volunteering with the Back to School program and Feeding the Homeless.
“I can expect a text, ‘Mother, look on your porch,’” Sturdivant said. “After Thanking God, I say my angel has been here. Evangelist Tangula Diggs is truly a servant and ambassador of Christ. Anson County, especially our school system, is blessed to have her.”
Although she has been involved in many school systems and community outreach programs throughout her life, Diggs said her call to preach the Bible is the most rewarding and fulfilling.
Jan. 15 marks the anniversary of the initial sermon preached in 2005: “He Will Work It Out; When Did God Become Weak?” Diggs took her text from Numbers 11:23; which states, “And the Lord said unto Moses, is the Lord’s hand-waxed short? Thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not.”
Diggs said God continues to work it out in her life; and she has been deemed “The Radical Princess.”
The ordained evangelist is the assistant pastor of Friendship One Accord Worldwide Church of God Inc., where she also serves as a missionary to Africa, president of the education department and church administrator. She also holds the national offices of general secretary and education president for One Accord Worldwide Church of God Inc.
In Africa, she adopted two schools in the villages of Kakamega and Chimoi.
At any given service, out of a pure heart, Diggs can be found worshipping and praising God. By earned right, Diggs’ style of praise identifies her from the tribe of Judah. She’s an honor graduate of the Prophets of Excellence School.
The 1987 graduate of Anson High graduated from in 1991 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She earned her masters from UNC Pembroke and has also studied at Nova Southeastern University in Florida.
She is involved in a number of ministries and has several professional memberships. Diggs is past president of the Domestic Violence Rape Crisis Center in Laurinburg and serves as a facilitator for the National Red Cross’s Disaster Pillowcase Project.
She credits several people for her learning thirst, including her late mother, Lucinda Diggs Redfern. She also expressed gratitude to Deborah Royal, Michael McLeod, Mary C. Weaver, Patricia McQueen and Shirley Streater.
“My advice for those who want to volunteer: just do it,” Diggs said. “One person can only do so much; however; if you connect with someone, and join forces, the outcome will be limitless.”
Tangula A. Diggs has adopted two schools in Africa in the villages of Kakamega and Chimoi.
