William Wayne Ethridge, Sr.

Funeral services for Mr. William Wayne Ethridge, Sr will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, July 19, 2019 at Robert Barham Family Funeral Home with Brother David Sellers and Brother Damon Williams officiating.  Burial will follow at Pine Grove Church Cemetery.  Robert Barham Family Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with the arrangements.

Mr. William Wayne (Billy Wayne) Ethridge, Sr., age 83, of Collinsville, Mississippi, passed away July 16, 2019 at Rush Specialty Hospital in Meridian, Mississippi.

Billy Wayne was born September 1, 1935 to the late Bill and Vera Ethridge in the Martin-Collinsville community.  He played basketball for Martin High School and received a scholarship to play basketball at Mississippi State University from 1953 – 1957.  On June 9, 1954, Billy Wayne married the love of his life, Patricia Steverson Ethridge; they enjoyed 65 years of marriage.  Mr. Ethridge was a former schoolteacher and coach in Kemper County, Winona, and Greenwood.  He served the Mississippi Air National Guard, working on the flight line at Key Field and on F4s with the 186 ^th TRG.  Later, he worked as the area supervisor for the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services from which he retired.  He was a member of Antioch Southern Methodist Church.  Billy Wayne enjoyed collecting arrow heads, John Deere tractors, and restoring artifacts.  He was also a trapper and a farmer.  Mr. Ethridge loved his family and thoroughly enjoyed visits and spending time with his grandchildren.

Mr. Ethridge is survived by his wife, Patricia Steverson Ethridge; his children, Wayne Ethridge (Kathy), Ken Ethridge (Jessica), and Susan Bobo (Ricky); his grandchildren, Michael and Sarah Al-Hajiri, Amy Wallace (Lyle), Samuel Bobo (Vickie), Nathan Ethridge, Anna Ethridge, Kyle Ethridge, and Ryan Ethridge; his great-grandchildren, Leigh, Anna, and Cale Wallace, Allie and Haiden Bobo, and Mollie; as well as his brother, Doyle Ethridge.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Vera Ethridge; his daughter, Teresa Al-Hajiri; and an older infant brother.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be shared with American Cancer Society or Gideon’s International.

Pallbearers will be Brent Stevens, Wade Duncan, Nathan Ethridge, Kyle Ethridge, Ryan Ethridge, Anna Ethridge, Amy Wallace, Lyle Wallace, and Sam Bobo.  Honorary pallbearers will be Dewayne Todd, Josh Todd, Albert Paul, William Hodges, Paul Chapel, and Eddie Spears.

Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at robertbarhamffh.com

The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 18, 2019 at Robert Barham Family Funeral Home.