Willard Derwood Wofford

Mr. Wofford, age 87, died at his home after an extended illness. He was a veteran of WWII and the Korean War. Our father left us with many memories; the beach, his homemade cinnamon rolls, and Christmas; but our best memory will be his Salvation and Baptism.

He proudly served as a policeman, 1953-1983, with the Gadsden Police Department, retiring as Assistant Chief. The Gadsden Times interviewed him at his retirement. The words he spoke then were feeling from his heart, “I’ve tried to stay out of politics,” he said, “I’ve never tried to take part in politics and I’ve never walked off the job. I feel like when I took the oath as a police officer, I was always a police officer.” He cared only that the men and women he served with returned safely home at the end of their shift.

He received many commendations, he also designed the patch worn by the Gadsden Police Department. That patch is still worn today.

Daddy is now (10-42). End of Duty.

A special thank you to Gadsden Regional Medical Center, Amedysis Hospice, Physicians Choice Dialysis Dr. Kwan and Dr. Hwang, Gadsden Ambulance personnel, his care givers JR, Benny, Michell, Skylar and Joy that became part of our family.

He is survived by his daughters: Betty (Gordon) Clemons, Janice (Earl) Gibbs, and Frances (Ron) Reynolds; grandchildren: Neil Clemons, Mark Clemons, Lynn Watson, Wayne Hammonds, Todd Hammonds, Byram Hammonds, Gwen Gardner, and Jason Gibbs; many great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his son, Robert Wofford; wife, Effie D. Wofford and second wife, Maurine Wofford; sister, Maxine Burrows; and his parents.

Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, April 14, 2013, at Collier-Butler Chapel. The Rev. Harold Epperson and Rev. Ronald Reynolds will officiate. Burial with Gadsden Police Department and Etowah County Sheriff’s Department Honor Guard will follow at Rainbow Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Saturday and from 2-3 p.m. Sunday prior to the service at Collier-Butler.

Grandchildren will serve as pallbearers.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.collier-butler.com