November 29, 2024, 54, Mount Olive —

William Jackson Whitfield, resident of the Pricetown community, Mount Olive, passed away Friday afternoon, November 29, 2024, after a sudden onset of a fatal illness.  He was 54.

William had been a painter, had sold produce, and used his skills as a taxidermist.  He enjoyed karaoke performances with Willamena being his stage name.  Hunting and fishing were also his favorite hobbies.

He was preceded in death by his father, Harold W. Whitfield; and an infant grandson, Zachary Tucker.

William leaves behind his wife, Wendy Sullivan Whitfield; his mother, Muriel Williamson Whitfield of Mount Olive; six children, Amber Denise McCloud of Dudley, William J. Whitfield, Jr. of Dudley, Jamie Lynn Tucker and husband, Anthony Joseph “A.J.” Tucker, of Dudley, Kristian Leigh “Cricket” Whitfield of Mount Olive, Jessica Mabel Whitfield of Dudley, and Dylan James Whitfield of Mount Olive; grandchildren, Jonathan Bartlett, Allison McCloud, Jocelyn McCloud, Blake McCloud, Daisy Whitfield, Noah Whitfield, Nathan Whitfield, Melody Whitfield, Gracie Tucker, Hunter Tucker, Caleb Tucker, and Connor Tucker; his siblings, Peggy Dean Hines and husband, James, of Mount Olive, Harold Gregory “Greg” Whitfield and wife, of the Philippines, Gary Woodard Whitfield and wife, Betty, of Beulaville, Owen Whitfield of New York, and Joyce W. Barnes and husband, Tim, of Mount Airy; many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday, December 4, at 2:00 p.m. at Tyndall Funeral Home in Mount Olive.  Officiating will be the Rev. Mrs. Dolores Summerlin.  Burial will follow in the Williams Family Cemetery at Grant’s Chapel Church.  The family will receive friends on Wednesday at the funeral home during the hour before the funeral.  At other times, they welcome friends to the home of Amber McCloud, 107 Cave’s Cove Place, Dudley, N.C.

William would always announce his entrance with his favorite phrase, “Willamena is in the house.”