Willie Lee West

On May 10, 1949, a baby boy was born to Henry West and Beattie Hughes West in Leon County.  They named him Willie Lee West.  He was the youngest son in a family of eleven children.  Willie confessed to Christ at an early age at Hopewell Baptist Church in Leon County.  He was baptized and served faithfully as a young child while growing up.  He attended Hopewell Elementary School and Douglas High School.  After graduation he moved to Houston, Texas where he met and married the love of his life, Mary Lou Hyde on June 13, 1970.  To this union one son was born, Marcus Lemond West.   Willie loved building things, therefore, he made his career in the construction business.  One of his main jobs was the Brown and Root but he loved working with his brothers who was also in the construction business so he left Brown and Root to work with them.  He continued his career as a Cement Finisher until his retirement in 2005.  Willie wanted to stay busy so he began periodically helping his son Marcus with his trucking company doing odd jobs as needed.   Willie was a devoted husband, father and grandfather.  A highlight of his life was taking his seven year old granddaughter (Dior) to school daily.  They shared a special bond that even death cannot break.  He and his grandson Daydrien “Day” shared many exciting things together.  He and his son, Marcus, were so close that not a day went by without them speaking or seeing each other.   Willie loved people, therefore, his home was often a gathering place for family and friends.  He and Mary Lou served many home cooked meals and church members often joked when asked where they were going for lunch that they were going to “Lou-Lou’s” for dinner (smile).   Willie was very protective of his mother-in-law, Overseer Essie Hyde, and was always there whenever she needed him.  He was a father figure to the Hyde girls and all of the Hines children looked up to him as a big brother.  They valued his friendship and his advice.   Willie was a faithful member of Apostolic One Way Church, serving under the leadership of the late Pastor Jesse Hyde and Bishop A. E. Hyde.  He was a willing worker in whatever area he was needed until God called him home, Friday morning, October 24, 2016.  He was preceded in death by his father, Henry West and mother, Beattie West; two brothers, Roosevelt West and Jacob West; three sisters, Carrie Baker, Laura Crowe and Augusta Faye Randolph.   He leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife of 46 years, Mary Lou West; one son, Marcus Lemond West (Nicole); two grandchildren, Daydrien Youngblood West and Dior Nicole West; two brothers, Earnest West (Barbara) and Clemon West (Elouise) both of Houston, Texas; two sisters, Dorothy Hopkins (O’Landa) of Centerville, Texas and Velma Jones of Houston, Texas; two brothers-in-law, Tom Crowe and Alton Hyde (Glenda) of Houston, Texas; mother-in-law, Overseer Essie Hyde of Houston, Texas; five sisters-in-law, Betty West and Faye Nola West of Centerville, Texas, Bernita Heath (James), Cynthia Craig and Coetha Reynolds (Anthony) all of Houston, Texas; a devoted niece, Essie Landry (Lawrence) and many other lovely nieces, nephews, cousins, a host of friends and two god daughters, Chezney Reynolds and Brittnee Hines.