Wiltshire "Will" M Booker Jr.

Will, a long-time resident of Birmingham, AL passed away on July 28, 2015 at the age of 91. Born on Oct 24, 1923, he was pre-deceased by his parents Wiltshire Marion Booker and Mary Jones Booker of Gadsden, Alabama, and by his brothers Edmund Webster Booker of Birmingham, and Parham Nicholas Booker of Gadsden. He is survived by his beloved wife and soul-mate of 67 years, Virginia May Booker, and by his children Kathy Segrest (Jere), Patty Rudulph (Jimmy), and Will E. Booker (Debbie) of Pensacola, FL; his grandchildren Lanier Murray Brooks (Jordy) of Enterprise, AL, Elizabeth Murray of Rosemary Beach, FL, Jake Rudulph of Durham, NC, Barratt Rudulph; and his two great grandchildren Elizabeth Brooks and Virginia Brooks of Enterprise, AL.

Will was a veteran of World War II, having served in the 70th Infantry Division of the Seventh Army. He was awarded two Bronze Battle Stars and the Combat Infantry Badge for his service in The Battle of the Bulge during the winter of 1944 and 1945. Will’s deep patriotism for his country continued throughout his life, and at 90 years of age he proudly stood to salute the few remaining veterans of the Battle of the Bulge during the 2014 Veterans Day Parade in Birmingham. Prior to serving in the infantry, Will was part of The Army Specialist Training Program at UCLA, where he was enrolled in the pre-med program.

Will was a graduate of The University of Alabama and The University of Alabama Law School where he received his law degree in 1949. Upon graduation, he began his legal career in Washington DC as a legislative liaison attorney for the U.S. Department of Labor. In 1953 he moved his family to Atlanta where he embarked on a distinguished, 35-year career in the Legal Department of Southern Bell and South Central Bell Telephone Companies. At the time of his retirement in 1988 he was Vice President and General Counsel of South Central Bell. Passionate about the practice of law and full of intellectual curiosity, Will continued to work for another 24 years in private practice. He was of counsel with Lange, Simpson, Robinson and Somerville and was a partner with White, Dunn and Booker. At the time of his “second retirement” in 2012, he was a Distinguished Member with Wallace, Jordan, Ratliff and Brandt.

Will was an active member of Canterbury United Methodist Church, where he served as past Chairman of the Administrative Board. He was Chairman of the Family Life Council and served on the Canterbury Board of Trustees, the Finance Committee and the Long Range Planning Committee. He particularly enjoyed the robust exchange of ideas in the Manly Yeilding Dialogue Sunday School Class, of which he had been a member since 1969. While working with United Methodist outreach ministries Will also served on the Board of Directors of the Riley Community Center.

Will lived his life with quiet humility, extraordinary grace, and genuine compassion for others. Personal integrity and honor guided his life-long commitment to being a just and equitable man. He was deeply invested in the lives of others, taking particular delight in his cherished grandchildren. He will be remembered for his exuberant laughter, unfailing optimism, and steadfast support of The Alabama Crimson Tide. He will be missed for his wise counsel and boundless devotion to family and friends.

The family extends their heartfelt thanks to Dr. James Whatley, Dr. Gorman Jones, The Camellia Medical Group and to Southern Care Hospice Services. They are also deeply appreciative of the loving attention provided by Will’s caregivers, LaKisha Austin, KaShunda Holmes, LaTecia Cummings, Gloria Hatcher, Celeste Craver, Joyce Rudolph, Samelia Craver, Dorothy Dandridge, Nancy Woodson, and Yashica Allen.

A celebration of Will’s life will be held at 2:00 on Friday, July 31 at Canterbury United Methodist Church, 350 Overbrook Rd Birmingham, AL 35213. The family will receive visitors in Canterbury Hall immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials be made to the Canterbury Counseling Center Fund at Canterbury United Methodist Church or to The Red Barn, a therapeutic equine center, 2700 Bailey Rd, Leeds, AL 35094.