Willie Strong

Sunrise: March 18, 1938            Sunset: January 5, 2020

Willie Strong was born on March 18th, 1938 in Hazlehurst, Mississippi to the late Reverend Samuel Strong & Janie L. Chapman Strong. Willie is the only son of two children. Willie attended Mount Canaan Grammar School and was graduated of Parrish High School in 1956. After High School Willie moved to Louisiana, where he took in a Furniture company and thought it to be too laborious and back breaking so on July 1st, 1958, he made a decision to enlist in the United States Air Force. Willie joined the USAF without being drafted. After returning from a tour in Vietnam he was stationed at Nellis Air Force Base where he met Mary Virginia Manson. Willie and Mae {Mary Virginia} married on January 31st, 1964. During Willies Military career as an Aircraft Mechanic he held the top position  as a Zero-Defect Mechanic. Due to his career choice in the Air Force , Willie  traveled with is wife and his children to live over seas in Okinawa, Japan,and a lengthy duty assignment at Laughlin Air Force Base in Del-Rio, Texas. On July 1st,1978 after 20 years of Successful service Willie retired at NAFB. Upon retiring from the military in 1978, Willie worked as a Cable Splicer for Cox Communications formerly Misco Cable for an additional 20 years.

Willie accepted the Lord as his personal savior fifteen years ago at the end of the year revival. He joined his wife and children who were already members of Vegas View Church of God in Christ and faithfully served under the leadership of Pastor Jerald J. Manson,I, as Head Deacon, Trustee Board member, Vice President of Men's fellowship, and Food Bank Worker.

Willie loved to return home to Hazlehurst, Mississippi to visit his family and childhood friends. He found great jot in working around his sister's home and his family's property. He was fondly known as ''Doll Brother'' a nickname giving to him by his sister Thelma. Willie was known as a modern day MacGyver. Willie possessed a genius-level intellect, superb Engineering skills, excellent knowledge  od applied physics, military training in Aircraft Mechanic and a preference for non-lethal resolution to conflicts. In short, Willie could fix anything.
   
Willie told tall fables to his children and grandchildren of how he drowned a fish, whooped a bear, and choked an alligator. These funny stories among many others will always be fondly remembered.