C. W. Willingham, age 87, died Tuesday, September 11, 2012 at Sanctuary Hospice House in Tupelo, MS. He was born May 25, 1925 in Lafayette County, MS to the late Robert Wesley and Maggie Cox Willingham. At the age of seven, his mother died and he was raised by his late step-mother, Corine Carter Willingham. C. W. accepted Christ at an early age and united with the Pleasant Green M. B. Church until his death. On July 25, 1949 he married Cenie Chatman and no children were born of this union. She preceded him in death in 1998. C.W. loved singing, cooking and farming. During his earlier years he sang with a gospel quartet. He enjoyed baking cakes, cookies and pies which became his career, and after 42 years he retired as a baker from the University of Mississippi. Many could find him bragging about the large gardens, vegetables and animals that he raised. He and his late wife enjoyed attending and supporting his family reunions for many years.
Visitation will be held Saturday, September 15, 2012 from 10:00 AM to 11:00:00 AM at Pleasant Green MB Church on Hwy 315, Water Valley, MS. Funeral Services will follow the visitation at 11:00 AM at Pleasant Green Church with Dr. Preston Gleeton officiating. Burial will be in Spring Hill Cemetery in Yalobusha County, MS with his nephews and great-nephews serving as pallbearers.
He leaves to celebrate his memory, two brothers, Edward Willingham (Georgia) of Memphis, TN and Roland Willingham (Fannie) of Oxford, MS; two sisters, Minnie Shack of Memphis, TN, and Shirley Booker of Millington, TN; three sisters-in-law, Reba Willingham and Maudine Willingham, both of Oxford, MS and Alice Carter of Memphis, TN; one brother-in-law, Murray Dixon of Oxford, MS; many dear and close nieces and nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Cenie Chatman Willingham; one sister, Emma Dixon and three brothers, Robert Willingham, Jr., Eugene Carter and James Willingham.