Billy Bryce Williamson, age 85, died Saturday, May 6, 2017 at Yalobusha General Nursing Home in Water Valley, MS. He was born September 24, 1931 in Water Valley to the late Wayne B. and Gertrude Patterson Williamson. Mr. Williamson graduated from Water Valley High School in 1949 and received a Bachelor of Agricultural Science degree in Animal Husbandry from Mississippi State University. A lifelong resident of Yalobusha County, he was a very successful crop and cattle farmer and forester; and in the early 1950’s he worked for the Mississippi Highway Department. Mr. Williamson was a member of Ford’s Well Church of Christ, Mississippi State Alumni Association, Farm Bureau, Jeff Davis Water Association, and the Yalobusha Forestry Association where he received an award for planting over one million trees. He was also on the Board of Directors for Northwest Community College. Mr. Williamson was an avid hunter and fisherman.
Visitation will be held Thursday, May 11, 2017 from 12:00 noon until 2:00 pm at Seven Oaks Funeral Home in Water Valley, MS. The funeral service will begin immediately following the visitation at 2:00 pm in the Henry Chapel of Seven Oaks with Bro. Billy Sasser officiating. Burial will be in the Pinecrest Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Yalobusha County with Jay Hall, Alan Rone, Aaron Williamson, Adam Williamson, Colby Williamson and Cory Williamson serving as pallbearers. Jacob Edwards, Glenn Gabbert, Jack Lowery, S. T. White, Jerry Wilbourn, Jamie Thomas, and Rayford Wilbourn will serve as honorary pallbearers.
Mr. Williamson is survived by his wife of 65 years, Martha Langston Williamson of Water Valley, MS; his daughter, Carolyn Dodson (Jason) of Madison, AL; four sons, Scott Williamson (Deborah) of Smyrna, TN, Mike Williamson (Lorri), Pat Williamson (Angelina), and Steve Williamson all of Water Valley, MS; his sister, Bettye Reynolds of Carmichael, CA; sixteen grandchildren and nineteen great-grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a grandson, Justin Williamson.