Services for William Earle Williamson, of Bogue Chitto, are 1p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 24, at Riverwood Family Funeral Service Chapelwith burial in Pleasant Hill Baptist Church Cemetery in BogueChitto.

Visitation is Tuesday from 4 until 9 p.m. at the funeralhome.

Mr. Williamson, 82, died Feb. 22, 2010, at his residence. He wasborn on June 4, 1927, to Franklin Lafayette Williamson and SusieAnn Norton Williamson.

He was retired from his work with Lincoln County SouthernAppraisers, and was a notary public. He attended West Point, wherehe received a certificate as a chef. He was the youngest stewardchef to sail on Merchant Seaman and passenger ships. He had morethan 42 years sea time aboard U.S. Coast Guard Merchant ships. Aveteran of the U.S. Coast Guard, he served during World War II fromDec. 7, 1941 until Dec. 3, 1946. He was a member of the TopisawMasonic Lodge No. 413. He was a member of Pleasant Hill BaptistChurch.

Preceding him in death were his parents; his brothers, Walter LeeWilliamson and wife Sylvia, and Frank Williamson; his sisters,Bertha Avants and husband Eston, Edna Thrope, and Thelma (Reid)Gatlin and husband Clyde.

Although never married, and no children of his own, he had hisnephews and nieces, who called him “Unk.” Survivors are hisnephews, Leroy Williamson and wife Mitizi, of San Diego, Calif.,James Frank Williamson and wife Wyleen, of Magnolia, Nolan EarlWilliamson and wife Karen, of Bogue Chitto, Robert “Bobby” Gatlin,of Atlanta, Ga., and Charles Frankie Gatlin, of St. Rose, La.; hisnieces, Louise Moak and husband Harold, of Ferriday La., BettyMcDavid and husband Lafayette, of Brookhaven, Diane Greer andhusband Stanley, of Bogue Chitto, Judy McCullough and husbandJames, of Wesson, Joyce Baxley and husband Larry, of Jay, Fla., andMary Nell Meritt, of Zachary La.; and many great-, great-great- andgreat-great-great nephews and nieces.

To express your thoughts to the family, you may visitriverwoodfamily.com and click on his name to leave a comment.