William Alexander Gill Sr

William "Billy" Alexander Gill Sr, 73, a resident of Lapine, Alabama, passed away at Crenshaw Community Hospital on Saturday, July 27th, 2024. Funeral services for Billy will be held at 2 PM on Tuesday, July 30th, from the Chapel of Turners Funeral Home with Brother Daryl Freeman officiating. Interment will follow in Bethlehem Cemetery with Turners Funeral Home of Luverne directing. The family will receive friends at the funeral home for one hour prior to the service.

Billy was a natural born leader who was always the life of the party wherever he went. He had a tendency to become the center of attention no matter where he was or what he was doing. His exploits around Greenville were legendary because he always knew how to keep people on their toes, especially if they were authority figures! Obviously, that means he had a phenomenal sense of humor who loved to thumb his nose at authority when the opportunity presented itself...but it was always in good fun. Some may have called him blunt, but you could be assured that you always knew where you stood with him. That's a rare quality these days and something to be grateful for when you don't have to walk on eggshells when dealing with someone.

Billy was blessed to be a very skilled carpenter and mechanic, and he enjoyed both professions during his lifetime. In his free time, he loved fast cars and fast fish to catch. Hang around him long enough and you were likely to hear a few fish tales....a few of them might even be true! On Saturdays in the Fall, you were most likely to find him near a TV so that he could cheer on his beloved Alabama Crimson Tide to victory on the gridiron. Otherwise, Billy was probably going to be watching every game show he could, especially when his "girlfriend" Vanna White was on Wheel of Fortune. Above all, he was a devoted father, grandfather, and great-grandfather who absolutely adored being "PawPaw Gill" to all of them. He will be missed more than words could possibly express, but he will continue to live on in many a heart and mind for years and years to come.

Billy was preceded in death by his wife, Debra Jean Hall Gill; parents, Douglas Gill and Luverne Wilson; and siblings, Doug Gill, Carolyn Missildine, and Linda Garlock. He is survived by his children, Bridget Edwards, Billy Gill Jr, Shane Gill, Robert (Cathy) Gill, and Amanda Gill; grandchildren, Alicia, Allie, Haley, Alex, Aaron, Michael, Austin, Whittney, Wesley, Codie, Charity, and Tamia; great-grandchildren, Wyatt, Brees, Maddie, Johnny, Mia, Ava, Audry, Arizona, Bentley, Rhiley, Ellie, Emsley, and Kadarius; siblings, Robert (Tammy) Owens, Jack (Sarah) Owens, John Owens, Gail Garlock, Ray (Robin) Owens, and Dale (Laurie) Owens; and a host of nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends.

Active pallbearers will be Alex Bowden, Aaron Gill, Austin Gill, Michael Watson, Codie Gill, and Wesley Gill.