William Willard Josey, 81, of Bainbridge, GA, passed away Wednesday, January 16, 2013 at his residence.

The funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, January 18, 2013 at West Bainbridge Baptist Church with Rev. Danny VunCannon officiating. Interment will follow at West Bainbridge Cemetery with Randy Weathersby, Christopher Hall, Brent Foulk, Boston Foulk, Todd Bowen, Will Josey, Bill Powell, and Clayton Powell serving as active pallbearers.

The family will receive friends from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, January 17, 2013 at Ivey Funeral Home. Online visitors may sign the guest register at www.iveyfuneral.com. Memorial donations may be made to West Bainbridge Baptist Church Food Bank, P.O. Box 356, Bainbridge, GA 39818.

Mr. Josey was born July 31, 1931 in Faceville, GA, the son of James Monroe Josey and Effie Kelley Josey. He was a veteran of the United States Army, serving during the Korean War. Mr. Josey retired from Albany Electric Company and had worked for Georgia Electric for 28 years. He was an active member of West Bainbridge Baptist Church, where he was a Deacon Emeritus. Mr. Josey loved his church, traveling in the mountains, fishing, wrestling, horses, gospel music, and most of all, he loved his family.

Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Geneva Weathersby Josey of Bainbridge, GA; his son, Bill Josey and his wife, Beth, of Bainbridge, GA; his daughters, Donna Bowen of Bainbridge, GA, Sandra Foulk of Thomasville, GA, and Carol Powell and her husband, Bill, of Bainbridge, GA; his brother, Rusty Josey and his wife, Gwen of Bainbridge, GA; his sisters, Margaret Howard of Thomasville, GA, Myrtle Fowler and her husband, Comer, of Holt, FL, and Mary Inlow of Bainbridge, GA; his brother-in-law, Earl Powell of Milton, FL; his grandchildren, Christopher Hall, Laura Hall, Brent Foulk and his wife, Kristyn, Boston Foulk, Ginger Phillips, Amy Juarez, and her husband, Ivan, Todd Bowen, Will Josey and his wife, Nicki, Stephany Josey, Bethany Josey, Bill Powell, Jr. and his wife, Christina, Clayton Powell, and Katie Harrell; his great-grandchildren, Charity Bowen, Tristan Phillips, Christian Juarez, Catalina Juarez, Cameron Juarez, Payton Josey, Alex Josey, Kayden Harrell, and Jenny Powell; and his great-great grandson, Karson Phillips. Mr. Josey was preceded in death by his sister, Myola Powell; and his lifetime friends, Leon Gainey and Bill Martin.