William Edgar "Billy" Ezell, III

William Edgar "Billy" Ezell, III was born August 10th, 1946 in Mobile, AL to the late William E. Ezell, Jr. and mother, Martha Bean Chance. As a founding member, with his friend Danny Sheridan, of the Naachi Nomad "gang," Billy established himself early as a mischievous fixture among Mobile youth, while at the same time recording perfect attendance at All Saints Episcopal Church. Both sides of this coin, the fun-loving and the faithful, would be evident from his first day to his last.

Billy attended Barton Academy as a boy, where he delighted friends and confounded teachers in equal measure. He graduated from Murphy High School in 1964, and then joined The University of Alabama class of 1968. There, he was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity, to which he would remain a devoted participant and patron all his life. His love of Alabama stayed with him long after he left Tuscaloosa. He showed his Tide Pride as a member of the University's Business School Board of Visitors and of the President's Cabinet.

Billy's career in business took him to Birmingham, AL; Atlanta, GA; and finally Nashville, TN as both Chief Operating Officer and later a franchisee of Waffle House restaurants. He and his partner Nat Harris opened restaurants in Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi and Kentucky. They achieved great success "Under the Yellow Sign," allowing Billy to, among various charitable contributions, dispense Waffle House-embossed golf balls with rare generosity among the ponds, creeks, and out-of-bounds areas of the golf courses throughout the Southeast and beyond. He worked hard and played hard not only at golf, but also cards, fishing, and throwing the kind of parties that lived in local lore. There was nobody who knew better how to let the good times roll, and he loved nothing more than taking family and friends along for the ride. That "ride" was often literal, as he was an impossibly enthusiastic member of his Mardi Gras mystic society and enjoyed parading despite through health problems that would've kept lesser celebrants at home.

He shared his success through his generosity, a helping hand out to all comers at all times. If he could help he would do it. He would even help sometimes when he couldn't. For that, he leaves behind many grateful relatives, friends and institutions that benefited from his virtual inability to say "No" to anyone needing a leg up, a ticket to the game or a laugh. He never missed an important event, once driving overnight from Mobile to New Jersey to attend his son's high school football game because he simply refused to be absent. He never missed a milestone or refused an opportunity to learn, and for that he leaves behind three happy, confident, and appreciative children who, for all the times both good and bad, know they were cherished.

Billy is survived by his three children, Elissa Ezell Watkins (Jay) of Mobile, William Clayton Ezell (Vadie) and Jeffrey Coleman Ezell (Emily) of Nashville, TN, by whom he has four grandchildren, Kate and Mary Mac Watkins, Gray Ezell and Sarah Ezell. He is also survived by his sister, Carolyn "Pug" Chapman (Jimmy) of Daphne, AL, as well as his nephew James Chapman and family of Greer, SC, and companion Mary Lou Mosteller, along with many beloved cousins, godchildren, friends, cohorts, accomplices, known associates and partners in crime.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorial gifts to:

The Seeing Eye http://www.seeingeye.org/ or

Historic Restoration Society, Inc.

P.O. Box 1566

Mobile, AL 36633

A celebration of his life will be celebrated on Saturday, March 28, at 11 a.m. in the Garden at Christ Church Cathedral, Mobile, Alabama. Condolences may be offered at www.radneyfuneralhome-mobile.com. Arrangements by Radney Funeral Home, 3155 Dauphin Street, Mobile, Alabama 36606.