Wiley T. Williams, Sr.

Funeral services for Wiley T. Williams, Sr., 96, World War II veteran of the Battle of the Philippine Sea and long-time resident of Hollandale, will be at 2:30p.m. Friday, May 25, 2012 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Hollandale.  He died peacefully at home on Wednesday, May 23, 2012.  Burial will be in Hollandale Cemetery under the direction of Boone Funeral Home, Greenville. One of the dwindling number of World War II Veterans, he was first stationed at the Naval Air Station, New Orleans, where he served as a flight instructor from 1942-1943.  He was an Avenger bomber pilot in the Navy’s Torpedo 14 Squadron in the Pacific Theater of Operations where he received the Navy Cross, Distinguished Flying Medal and Air Medal.  He attained the rank of Lt. Cmdr. Wiley was born September 5, 1915 in Mechanicsburg, MS.  He graduated from Satartia High School in 1934.  Following adventures of riding the rails and working the wheat harvest out west, he attended Millsaps College from 1938-1940 where he played football and basketball.  He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in early 1941. During his assignment in New Orleans he met and in 1944 married Peggy North.  Upon separating from the Navy in 1947, they moved to Hollandale where they raised two children, both surviving.  Peggy, his wife of 58 years died in 2004 at age 93.  He owned and operated Deerfield Farms on Hwy 12. Wiley was a founding member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, serving as a diocesan council delegate and usher.  He was a member of the Highland Club on Lake Washington for decades. He lived a long, active and healthy life on his own terms.  He will be most remembered for his deep commitment to family and his abiding love of his country.  He is survived by his son and his wife, Tommy Williams and Babs of Greenville, his daughter, Kiska Williams of Bethesda, MD; three grandchildren, Gabe Williams of New York, NY, Leah Stewart of Brookhaven and Wiley (Mac) Price of Tampa, FL; three great-grandchildren, Michael Thomas, Crews and Annie Stewart.  He is further survived by nieces and nephews, especially Leo Williams, Jr. and other relatives and friends, especially, Leroy and Jobana Frey, the Jerry Bratton family, Jeanne Hall, June Stock and Chloe Ganier, all of Hollandale. The family will receive friends from 1:30-2:30 p.m., Friday, May 25, 2012 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Hollandale.  A memorial fund has been established in his name for St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.  The family would like to thank those of Grace Community Hospice for their care and support.