Billy Murray Chapman
DECATUR — On July 10, 1923, Auvy Washington Chapman and his wife Minnie Eakes Chapman were blessed by the birth of their fifth and last child, Billy Murray Chapman. On Sept. 22, 2016, Billy Murray Chapman broke his earthly bonds so that he might live with his Heavenly Father for eternity. He was 93-years-old.
His funeral services will be held at Ridout’s Brown-Service Funeral Home today at 3 p.m. with Alan Watkins and Charles Riley officiating. Visitation will be two hours prior to the service. Burial will follow in Roselawn Cemetery.
Billy was born on July 10, 1923, at 405 Prospect Dr., Albany, Alabama. Billy’s father had moved the family from Pulaski, Tennessee to Albany, Alabama in order to find work at the railroad shops, known as the “Decatur Shops.” He had heard that the railroad shops were on strike. The house they rented on Prospect Drive was within walking distance of the railroad shops which was good, because the family did not have a car. Each Sunday the family would walk to Jackson Street Church of Christ to attend service. Of course Billy was too young to walk so his mother put him in a baby buggy and pushed him to church. A new church was being built called Grant Street Church of Christ; the family changed churches and began going to Grant Street Church of Christ. Billy became a lifetime member at Grant Street. He worshiped there until 2013, when his health began to decline.
Billy was drafted into the Army and on Feb. 6, 1943, he was sworn into the United States Army and boarded a train to Gainesville, Florida where he was assigned to the 86th “Black Hawk” Division. On May 5, 1944, Billy sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge headed to the South Pacific.Sixteen days later he arrived on New Caledonia. He then began moving from island to island: New Guinea, Admiralty Islands, Anguar, Peleliu, Babelthrop, and the Philippine Islands. On May 5, 1945, he celebrated VE Day, and the next day left for Japan. He then spent his last days in the Army occupying Japan after their surrender.
He was discharged from the army, came home, and soon meet his future wife, Christine Gann. They were soon married and began to live the next 68 years together. Billy soon went to work for Wolverine and worked there for 29 and a half years and retired in 1978. In 1972, he and his wife, Chris, opened Norge Villa Laundry. Billy and Chris operated Norge Villa Laundry until June of 2013 at which time they both retired.
Billy loved to read and enjoyed sitting in his recliner at home with a good book. He loved to travel, and he and his wife traveled to South America, Hawaii, London, Mexico, and France. His greatest love, other than his wife, was Alabama football. He followed the Alabama football team to many of their bowl games and many regular season games.
Billy was preceded in death by his parents, Auvy Washington Chapman and Minnie Eakes Chapman; two brothers, Everett Edward Chapman and Auvy Woodrow Chapman; and two sisters, Wylma E. Eubanks and Thelma E. Hanks.
Billy is survived by his wife, Christine (Chris) Chapman; his two sons, Douglas M. Chapman and Donald A. Chapman (Barbara); two grandsons, Bryan Chapman (Julie) and Travis Chapman (Leslye); two great-grandchildren, Garrett Chapman and Sophia Chapman; one stepgrandson, Walter Smith; one stepgreat-granddaughter, Madelyn Smith; numerous nieces and nephews; family friend, Judy Burns; and loyal caregiver, Ann Borden.
Pallbearers will be members of Grant Street Church of Christ.
Published in the Decatur Daily on September 25, 2016
DECATUR — On July 10, 1923, Auvy Washington Chapman and his wife Minnie Eakes Chapman were blessed by the birth of their fifth and last child, Billy Murray Chapman. On Sept. 22, 2016, Billy Murray Chapman broke his earthly bonds so that he might live with his Heavenly Father for eternity. He was 93-years-old.
His funeral services will be held at Ridout’s Brown-Service Funeral Home today at 3 p.m. with Alan Watkins and Charles Riley officiating. Visitation will be two hours prior to the service. Burial will follow in Roselawn Cemetery.
Billy was born on July 10, 1923, at 405 Prospect Dr., Albany, Alabama. Billy’s father had moved the family from Pulaski, Tennessee to Albany, Alabama in order to find work at the railroad shops, known as the “Decatur Shops.” He had heard that the railroad shops were on strike. The house they rented on Prospect Drive was within walking distance of the railroad shops which was good, because the family did not have a car. Each Sunday the family would walk to Jackson Street Church of Christ to attend service. Of course Billy was too young to walk so his mother put him in a baby buggy and pushed him to church. A new church was being built called Grant Street Church of Christ; the family changed churches and began going to Grant Street Church of Christ. Billy became a lifetime member at Grant Street. He worshiped there until 2013, when his health began to decline.
Billy was drafted into the Army and on Feb. 6, 1943, he was sworn into the United States Army and boarded a train to Gainesville, Florida where he was assigned to the 86th “Black Hawk” Division. On May 5, 1944, Billy sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge headed to the South Pacific.Sixteen days later he arrived on New Caledonia. He then began moving from island to island: New Guinea, Admiralty Islands, Anguar, Peleliu, Babelthrop, and the Philippine Islands. On May 5, 1945, he celebrated VE Day, and the next day left for Japan. He then spent his last days in the Army occupying Japan after their surrender.
He was discharged from the army, came home, and soon meet his future wife, Christine Gann. They were soon married and began to live the next 68 years together. Billy soon went to work for Wolverine and worked there for 29 and a half years and retired in 1978. In 1972, he and his wife, Chris, opened Norge Villa Laundry. Billy and Chris operated Norge Villa Laundry until June of 2013 at which time they both retired.
Billy loved to read and enjoyed sitting in his recliner at home with a good book. He loved to travel, and he and his wife traveled to South America, Hawaii, London, Mexico, and France. His greatest love, other than his wife, was Alabama football. He followed the Alabama football team to many of their bowl games and many regular season games.
Billy was preceded in death by his parents, Auvy Washington Chapman and Minnie Eakes Chapman; two brothers, Everett Edward Chapman and Auvy Woodrow Chapman; and two sisters, Wylma E. Eubanks and Thelma E. Hanks.
Billy is survived by his wife, Christine (Chris) Chapman; his two sons, Douglas M. Chapman and Donald A. Chapman (Barbara); two grandsons, Bryan Chapman (Julie) and Travis Chapman (Leslye); two great-grandchildren, Garrett Chapman and Sophia Chapman; one stepgrandson, Walter Smith; one stepgreat-granddaughter, Madelyn Smith; numerous nieces and nephews; family friend, Judy Burns; and loyal caregiver, Ann Borden.
Pallbearers will be members of Grant Street Church of Christ.
Published in the Decatur Daily on September 25, 2016
Billy Murray Chapman
DECATUR — On July 10, 1923, Auvy Washington Chapman and his wife Minnie Eakes Chapman were blessed by the birth of their fifth and last child, Billy Murray Chapman. On Sept. 22, 2016, Billy Murray Chapman broke his earthly bonds so that he might live with his Heavenly Father for eternity. He was 93-years-old.
His funeral services will be held at Ridout’s Brown-Service Funeral Home today at 3 p.m. with Alan Watkins and Charles Riley officiating. Visitation will be two hours prior to the service. Burial will follow in Roselawn Cemetery.
Billy was born on July 10, 1923, at 405 Prospect Dr., Albany, Alabama. Billy’s father had moved the family from Pulaski, Tennessee to Albany, Alabama in order to find work at the railroad shops, known as the “Decatur Shops.” He had heard that the railroad shops were on strike. The house they rented on Prospect Drive was within walking distance of the railroad shops which was good, because the family did not have a car. Each Sunday the family would walk to Jackson Street Church of Christ to attend service. Of course Billy was too young to walk so his mother put him in a baby buggy and pushed him to church. A new church was being built called Grant Street Church of Christ; the family changed churches and began going to Grant Street Church of Christ. Billy became a lifetime member at Grant Street. He worshiped there until 2013, when his health began to decline.
Billy was drafted into the Army and on Feb. 6, 1943, he was sworn into the United States Army and boarded a train to Gainesville, Florida where he was assigned to the 86th “Black Hawk” Division. On May 5, 1944, Billy sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge headed to the South Pacific.Sixteen days later he arrived on New Caledonia. He then began moving from island to island: New Guinea, Admiralty Islands, Anguar, Peleliu, Babelthrop, and the Philippine Islands. On May 5, 1945, he celebrated VE Day, and the next day left for Japan. He then spent his last days in the Army occupying Japan after their surrender.
He was discharged from the army, came home, and soon meet his future wife, Christine Gann. They were soon married and began to live the next 68 years together. Billy soon went to work for Wolverine and worked there for 29 and a half years and retired in 1978. In 1972, he and his wife, Chris, opened Norge Villa Laundry. Billy and Chris operated Norge Villa Laundry until June of 2013 at which time they both retired.
Billy loved to read and enjoyed sitting in his recliner at home with a good book. He loved to travel, and he and his wife traveled to South America, Hawaii, London, Mexico, and France. His greatest love, other than his wife, was Alabama football. He followed the Alabama football team to many of their bowl games and many regular season games.
Billy was preceded in death by his parents, Auvy Washington Chapman and Minnie Eakes Chapman; two brothers, Everett Edward Chapman and Auvy Woodrow Chapman; and two sisters, Wylma E. Eubanks and Thelma E. Hanks.
Billy is survived by his wife, Christine (Chris) Chapman; his two sons, Douglas M. Chapman and Donald A. Chapman (Barbara); two grandsons, Bryan Chapman (Julie) and Travis Chapman (Leslye); two great-grandchildren, Garrett Chapman and Sophia Chapman; one stepgrandson, Walter Smith; one stepgreat-granddaughter, Madelyn Smith; numerous nieces and nephews; family friend, Judy Burns; and loyal caregiver, Ann Borden.
Pallbearers will be members of Grant Street Church of Christ.
Published in the Decatur Daily on September 25, 2016
DECATUR — On July 10, 1923, Auvy Washington Chapman and his wife Minnie Eakes Chapman were blessed by the birth of their fifth and last child, Billy Murray Chapman. On Sept. 22, 2016, Billy Murray Chapman broke his earthly bonds so that he might live with his Heavenly Father for eternity. He was 93-years-old.
His funeral services will be held at Ridout’s Brown-Service Funeral Home today at 3 p.m. with Alan Watkins and Charles Riley officiating. Visitation will be two hours prior to the service. Burial will follow in Roselawn Cemetery.
Billy was born on July 10, 1923, at 405 Prospect Dr., Albany, Alabama. Billy’s father had moved the family from Pulaski, Tennessee to Albany, Alabama in order to find work at the railroad shops, known as the “Decatur Shops.” He had heard that the railroad shops were on strike. The house they rented on Prospect Drive was within walking distance of the railroad shops which was good, because the family did not have a car. Each Sunday the family would walk to Jackson Street Church of Christ to attend service. Of course Billy was too young to walk so his mother put him in a baby buggy and pushed him to church. A new church was being built called Grant Street Church of Christ; the family changed churches and began going to Grant Street Church of Christ. Billy became a lifetime member at Grant Street. He worshiped there until 2013, when his health began to decline.
Billy was drafted into the Army and on Feb. 6, 1943, he was sworn into the United States Army and boarded a train to Gainesville, Florida where he was assigned to the 86th “Black Hawk” Division. On May 5, 1944, Billy sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge headed to the South Pacific.Sixteen days later he arrived on New Caledonia. He then began moving from island to island: New Guinea, Admiralty Islands, Anguar, Peleliu, Babelthrop, and the Philippine Islands. On May 5, 1945, he celebrated VE Day, and the next day left for Japan. He then spent his last days in the Army occupying Japan after their surrender.
He was discharged from the army, came home, and soon meet his future wife, Christine Gann. They were soon married and began to live the next 68 years together. Billy soon went to work for Wolverine and worked there for 29 and a half years and retired in 1978. In 1972, he and his wife, Chris, opened Norge Villa Laundry. Billy and Chris operated Norge Villa Laundry until June of 2013 at which time they both retired.
Billy loved to read and enjoyed sitting in his recliner at home with a good book. He loved to travel, and he and his wife traveled to South America, Hawaii, London, Mexico, and France. His greatest love, other than his wife, was Alabama football. He followed the Alabama football team to many of their bowl games and many regular season games.
Billy was preceded in death by his parents, Auvy Washington Chapman and Minnie Eakes Chapman; two brothers, Everett Edward Chapman and Auvy Woodrow Chapman; and two sisters, Wylma E. Eubanks and Thelma E. Hanks.
Billy is survived by his wife, Christine (Chris) Chapman; his two sons, Douglas M. Chapman and Donald A. Chapman (Barbara); two grandsons, Bryan Chapman (Julie) and Travis Chapman (Leslye); two great-grandchildren, Garrett Chapman and Sophia Chapman; one stepgrandson, Walter Smith; one stepgreat-granddaughter, Madelyn Smith; numerous nieces and nephews; family friend, Judy Burns; and loyal caregiver, Ann Borden.
Pallbearers will be members of Grant Street Church of Christ.
Published in the Decatur Daily on September 25, 2016
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