William Cover Heishman

Bill spent his entire life calling Stuarts Draft home. He grew up on High Street and later built a home on Stuart Avenue, where he lived for nearly 50 years. After graduating from Wilson Memorial High School in 1964, he worked various jobs before beginning his career with the Virginia Department of Taxation. During his many work trips to Southwest Virginia, he met and eventually married Sue Hicks, the love of his life for over 20 years. Bill’s career with the Department of Taxation spanned over 35 years before he retired in 2003. This time was a godsend as it allowed him to care for Sue during her battle with cancer. After Sue passed away in 2007, Bill spent his time traveling the world. He was especially proud to have visited all 50 states, 9 Canadian provinces, 3 Caribbean islands, and 5 countries during his life. Bill loved sports, especially baseball and golf. He spent much of his childhood and teenage years playing for schools, the American Legion, the Hairston Braves, and the Waynesboro Generals. Later in life, Bill worked tirelessly to help the Draft Diamond Club and the Stuarts Draft Diamondbacks find success and win several championships. Bill and his family also belonged to Waynesboro Country Club for many years, and as a founding organizer of the Stuarts Draft Golf Association, his love for the game of golf was more than a hobby.

Bill was preceded in death by his father, Lawrence; mother, Virginia; and wife, Sue.

Bill is survived by his only child, Cover Heishman, who lives in Harrisonburg with his wife, Sara, and Bill’s two grandchildren, Lila (10) and Harper (3). Bill has one brother, Michael “Bucky” Heishman, who lives in North Carolina with his spouse, Connie. Bill also has two sisters, Sandy Johnson and Patti Bishop. Sandy lives in North Carolina with her partner, Ron Leamer, and Patti lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, Marlin. Bill has several cousins, but Sharon Kern was always his third sister. Sharon lives in Stuarts Draft with her husband, Russell.

A public memorial service will be held at 4pm on Saturday, April 22, 2023 at Reynolds Hamrick Funeral Home in Stuarts Draft, 1870 Stuarts Draft Highway.

There will be no public viewing or visitation at the funeral home.

Family, friends, loved ones, and the community may share condolences and memories online by visiting www.reynoldshamrickfuneralhomes.com