Extracted from The Daily Leader (Brookhaven, MS)
William Whittington Perkins
William Whittington Perkins passed away Wednesday the 28th of November in Brookhaven. Born August 24, 1926, to Thomas Hayes Perkins Jr. and Clara Whittington Perkins in Brookhaven, Mississippi. He graduated from Brookhaven High School. He attended the University of Mississippi, Colorado University and received a degree in business administration at Louisiana State University. He was a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity.
Bill served in the U.S. Navy as a corpsman on a minesweeper stationed in the Sea of Japan.
He joined his father and brother in the family business, retail furniture. The firm was established by his grandfather in 1887. He retired in 1992 to enjoy his Smith Lake Farm and to travel. His favorite countries were the United Kingdom and Portugal. He cherished his leisure time at his Gulf Coast home and was an active member of the Great Southern Club and the Walter Anderson Museum.
Bill loved his community and always looked for ways to make it a better place to live. He was an avid tennis player and together with Nena Fox established an active tennis program in Brookhaven in 1953. They coached many young people on Wednesday afternoons and during the summers. During his period coaching the Brookhaven High School tennis team they took District and State honors. He also taught tennis at the Brookhaven Country Club. For many years he enjoyed the Sunday afternoon doubles battle with his friends on the courts of Whitworth College.
Bill was a strong supporter and promoter of the Boy Scouts serving in many capacities including Cub Master, District Commissioner and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Andrew Jackson Council. His dedication and long-term service was recognized by their highest honor, the Silver Beaver Award.
Bill was an active member of First United Methodist Church where he served as superintendent of Church School, chairman of the Administrative Board and on the Board of Trustees. He taught junior high and adult Sunday school classes. He had a passion for the United Methodist Men serving as the local president, District president, and Conference president where he was recipient of their highest award, “Fellow of the Society of John Wesley.” He made annual visits to Nashville where he was a member of the “Upper Room” Board Prayer Line, which offers prayer counselors 24 hours a day seven days a week. He served as Southeast coordinator for Volunteers in Mission for the Methodist church. He was the supervisor for the UMM volunteers for building the Methodist church in Diamondhead. He worked hands on building churches in Costa Rica, Mexico and our surrounding states.
Bill was an enthusiastic member of the Brookhaven Noon Lions Club since 1952 serving as an officer in many local capacities including president. He became District Governor and chairman of the District Governors. He was a recipient of the Melvin Jones award for his many years of service. He served as chairman of Lions Eye Bank of Mississippi. Lions International appointed him to chair their disaster relief program after Hurricane Camille in 1969.
He was an active member of the Chamber of Commerce and served as president of the Industrial Foundation. He was active in the National Home Furnishings Association becoming director. He was also active in the South East Home Furnishings Association becoming a director and president. He loved gardening and became president of the Camellia Society. He also was active in cultural and historical societies, such as Sons of the American Revolution, the Brookhaven Trust and First Families of Mississippi. He was a founding member of the Crewe of Ceres and was selected king in 1989.
He is preceded in death by his parents Mr. and Mrs. T. H. Perkins Jr.; his brother Thomas H. Perkins III; and his sisters, Hortense Prater and Marilyn Harris.
He is survived by his wife, Betty Ann Malvaney Perkins; sons, William W. Perkins Jr. and Don Perkins and his wife, Theresia Perkins; grandchildren, Alison Perkins, Jeff Perkins, Whitney Perkins and Kseniya Savelyeva Perkins.
The family is very grateful for the loving care provided by Annabelle Dickerson the past four years. She made a huge difference for the sunset of his life.
Pallbearers are Omer Davis, Jim Cox, Joe Cox, Bill Jacobs, Michael Harris and Jim Harris. Honorary pallbearers are the United Methodist Men's Lost & Found Sunday School Class and the Brookhaven Noon Lions Club.
Visitation will be at Riverwood Family Funeral Service, 76 Highway 51 South, Brookhaven, from 4 until 7 Thursday afternoon. Funeral services will be at First United Methodist Church, 215 West Cherokee St., Brookhaven, at 11 a.m. Friday with burial at Rosehill Cemetery to follow.
Memorials may be sent to the First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 358, Brookhaven, MS 39602.
Thursday, November 29, 2012