Willis Junior "W.J." Havard

May 1, 1938 - January 10,2023

W.J. was a life-long resident of George County, specifically, the Rocky Creek community until 2 years ago when he and his wife moved to Florida. He was 84.

Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Mrs. Peggy Havard, his Son Vince Havard and daughter in law, Kim. and their four children: Delaney Smith and her husband, Drew, Cameron Havard and wife Elizabeth, Drew Havard, Chandlar Havard, and two Great-Grandsons, Tate and Grayson Smith. He is also survived by his daughter, Heather Tye and husband Tullis and their children, Lindsie Eubanks and Ronnie McMillan, Colin Eubanks and Autumn Mercer, Aubrey Tye and Jacob Hand, Aidan Eubanks and Allison Millwood, Brady Tye and Lily Glover, Jocelyn Eubanks, Walker Eubanks, and one Great Grandson, Barrett Liam McMillan due in May. He is also survived by a sweet, sweet sister, Willene Smith and her husband Raymond, his brother J.C. Havard and wife Vivian, his brother Clint Havard and wife Minnie, and a host of nieces and nephews all with special memories of him.

He was preceded in death by his son, Clayton Anthony Havard, his parents Willis and Ethylene Havard, his brother J.P. Havard and sister in law Betty Sue Havard, his niece Tammy Merritt, and his best friend and guitar playing buddy, Rudy Welford.

He loved to bird hunt and spent many hours in the bird field. He enjoyed being outdoors and working, building, or tinkering on any and everything. By trade, he was an electrician and worked on various electrical projects all over the United States. One of his favorite work memories was working aboard the USS Wisconsin. He loved playing the guitar and keeping mainstream country music alive. Although his kids had a distaste for the genre growing up, most of those old songs can be found on their phones on playlists and on playlists belonging to his grandchildren as well. He, Rudy, and the boys would play into the wee hours of the morning back then with a pot of coffee brewing nonstop. He was a practical joker and had a laugh that when it was heard from across the room was both infectious and easily recognizable.

He loved his hobbies, he loved his work, and he loved his family, but his passion, what really made him tick, was the fact that he loved Jesus. He loved the Bible. He loved pouring over scriptures and dissecting them to get the meat of the meaning of them – he passed that on to his children and grandchildren as well He was human, he wasn't perfect, but He loved the one that WAS perfect. And that is the perfect ending to a good, long–lived human life.

The funeral will be held 11:00 am on Friday, January 13, 2023 at Rocky Creek Church Of Christ, 3211 Rocky Creek Road, Lucedale, MS with Bro Don Myers officiating.  Burial will follow in Rocky Creek Cemetery. Calling hours will be Friday, January 13, 2023 from 9:00-11:00am at Rocky Creek Church of Christ.

Sigler Funeral Home, 601-947-3112, www.siglerfuneral.com, 4248 Main Street, Lucedale, MS, is in charge of arrangements.»(Do not delete this line. It does not print.  Text that is to appear on web must be entered before this line)