Deacon Willie J. Conyers

Published 10:59 am Thursday, March 22, 2018

Deacon Willie J. Conyers

March 10, 2018

Visitation for Mr. Conyers will be Saturday March 24, 11am @ Bruton Mortuary and interment will follow at 12 noon from the Jonas Lobe Cemetery.

Willie James Conyers was born on December 5, 1930, in Cyrene, Georgia, to the late Luther H. Conyers, Sr. and Ella Mae Brown Conyers. Our Heavenly Father called him to eternal rest on March 10, 2018. He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Daisy Donalson Conyers, daughter Wilhelmina Conyers, and siblings, Alvin P. Conyers, Sr. and Chester L. Conyers.

He was raised in Cyrene, Georgia and educated in the Decatur County (Georgia) School System. He graduated from Savannah State College with a B. S. in Physical Education, graduated from Florida A & M University with a M. Ed. and completed Post Graduate Studies at the University of Virginia. During his matriculation at Savannah State, Willie was initiated into the Delta Eta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated.   He was currently a charter member of the Omicron Alpha Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Willie also served his country in the United States Army during the Korean War.

In 1963, Willie relocated his family to Virginia and was employed by the Spotsylvania County School System. He served John J. Wright Consolidated School as a teacher, coach, and athletic director. After desegregation, he served Spotsylvania Senior High School as a teacher, coach, and administrator. In 1971, Willie was employed by the Fredericksburg City Schools as an administrator at Walker-Grant Middle School and later as an administrator/supervisor at the Central Office. A lifelong educator with a passion for developing, mentoring, and leading students and staff, Willie served Spotsylvania County as a school board member and later as chairman of the school board. His civic memberships also included the Fredericksburg Host Lions Club (member, president, district governor), the Fredericksburg Recreation Commission, Rappahannock Area Planning Commission, the John J. Wright Museum Board of Directors and BokarShrine Temple #166. He was also a member of the Twenty Gentlemen’s Club. Willie’s early teaching career included assignments at Mount Moriah High School, Attapulgus, Georgia and Hutto High School in Bainbridge, Georgia.

Willie was raised in a loving Christian home and accepted Christ at an early age at Mt. Pleasant Freewill Baptist Church in Cyrene, Georgia. He united with Shiloh Baptist Church (Old Site) in Fredericksburg, Virginia and served faithfully as a deacon (chairman), Sunday School teacher, Church Aid Club member, men’s choir member, member of the L. A. Davies Chorale, and chairman of the pastoral search committee.

Willie was united in holy matrimony to the late Daisy Donalson Conyers on February 6, 1954 and to that union four precious children were born: Sheryl of Albany, Georgia, Wilhelmina (deceased), Craig (Sharon) of Murfreesboro, Tennessee and Wilma of Fredericksburg, Virginia. He is also survived by foster –daughter Sadie Donalson (Rick) of Titusville, Florida. Granddaddy loved his grandchildren and is survived by Rachel and Jonathan Conyers, Eric, April, and Laurel Donalson, and Brittney Hampton. He is also survived by a god-daughter, Alanna Conyers.

Additional survivors include siblings Charles L. Conyers (Mary) of Richmond, Virginia and Luther H. Conyers, Jr. (Gwendolyn) of Bainbridge, Georgia. He will also be missed by “special daughters” Joyce Hill and Sharon Parrish, a “special son” Aurelious Lewis, along with a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.

Special thanks are given to his caregivers Barbara Lewis and Dennis Lewis and to the Home Missions Committee, the Church Aid Club and the deacons at Shiloh Old Site.