Obituaries – Their Stories Live On

Elder Willie Carroll, age 82, of Fayetteville, WV, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Monday, July 26, 2021. He was born on June 17, 1939, in Harnett County, Dunn, North Carolina.

He was the adopted son of the late William and Lula Ray Carroll.

He often spoke of Mama and Daddy and his appreciation of the way they brought him up; how they taught him the ways of the Lord and how to take care of himself. They kept him busy in the things of God and he received Christ at a young age. He attended Dunn Chapel Free Will Baptist Church.

He attended Harnett County Training School. After school, at the age of 18, he moved to the Washington, DC/Maryland area and began his working career.

He was a hard worker, even as a child, working in the tobacco fields of North Carolina to the halls of Duke Hospital as a Supervisor in his department. He was a stickler about details, doing things well and being well organized. Everything having a place and everything in its place was the way he liked it.

He was a man who enjoyed the simple things of life, like flowers and growing things. He loved to look good and dress well; and believed that when you came to the Lord’s house, you should look your best.

He believed your lifestyle should match your words. He believed in holiness and they who named the name of the Lord should live a holy life. He loved God’s word, good gospel singing, choirs in uniform. The old songs were his favorite and one of his favorite scriptures was the 23rd Psalm.

He was a city boy who ended up in a country town to care for his brother-in-law and sister when they were in declining health. This is part of who he was, willing to give, even when that giving was a sacrifice of himself.

After returning to West Virginia, he united himself with the body of Christ becoming a member of Community Baptist Church in Harlem Heights. He later became a member of Faith Tabernacle Church where he faithfully labored with all his might in whatever he did. He served as a choir member, custodian and deacon. In June of 2009, he was ordained an Elder of the gospel ministry under the leadership of Bishop Fred and Pastor Doris Adams.

He was united in marriage to Sancerria Freeman on May 4, 2002.

He was a man of few words, but weighty words. His legacy to us, as we often heard him say would be: “Children, be a soldier in God’s army. Stand on the Rock – that Rock is Jesus. Let your light shine so men can see your good works and glorify the Father in Heaven. Let your life be one of holiness because the Lord is sure to come. Live so the Lord will find you faithful when He comes.”

He was preceded in death by his parents: William and Lula Ray Carroll; his sister, Rose Harland, and her husband, his brother-in-law, Ocie Harland; and his sister-in-law, Ocie Mae Harland.

He is survived by his wife: Sancerria Freeman Carroll, Fayetteville, WV; brothers-in law: Bryon Freeman, Oak Hill, WV; Charles Freeman and James Freeman, Fayetteville, WV; sisters-in-law: Wauketa Okoli, Mount Hope, WV; Aleta Freeman, Yolanda Freeman, Bettina Freeman, Fayetteville, WV; and a host of relatives, nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.

Funeral service will be 12:00Noon Saturday, August 7, 2021 at Faith Tabernacle Church, Fayetteville, WV with Pastor Bryon Freeman officiating. Burial will follow in High Lawn Memorial Park, Oak Hill, WV.

Friends, while wearing masks and observing social distancing, may view one hour prior to the service.

Email condolences to ritchie-johnson@suddenlinkmail.com.

Arrangements entrusted to Ritchie & Johnson Funeral Parlor, Beckley.