William Cash Jr.

Family-Placed Death Notice

CASH, William, Jr. WILLIAM ELBERT "BILL" CASH, JR. BIRMINGHAM, AL -- William Elbert "Bill" Cash, Jr. went to be with his Lord and Savior on October 25, 2012 after a long and courageous five-year battle with brain cancer. He was 65 years old. Bill was born May 28, 1947 in Atlanta, Georgia. He was a 1965 graduate of Gadsden (Alabama) High School and a 1969 graduate of Samford University's School of Pharmacy in Birmingham, Alabama. He had a passion for healthcare, business and entrepreneurship. He began his pharmacy career as an intern for a hospital in Athens, Tennessee and then later worked for Charter Medical Corporation in Macon, Georgia. He also worked with Innovative Pharmacy Services prior to starting his own companies. Bill founded and developed three hospital pharmacy management companies, including Pharmacy Resources, PharmaSource Healthcare, and Principle Pharmacy Group. He loved the business climate in both Atlanta and Birmingham and had a special gift for building business relationships and long lasting friendships. Bill served as a member of the Samford University Board of Pharmacy for multiple years. During his battle with brain cancer, he founded and became the executive director for The Gaining Life Initiative Foundation for brain cancer research at UAB Hospital, Birmingham. During his lifetime, Bill was an active member, teacher, and deacon at Roswell First Baptist Church in Roswell, Georgia and Brookwood Baptist Church in Mountain Brook, Alabama. He enjoyed serving others and participated in two medical mission trips to Liberia, Africa. Bill was a fitness fanatic and spent much of his free time exercising, participating in marathons, triathlons and coaching basketball, his most loved sport. He had a strong compassion for animals and a particular love for German Shepherds. He had a gentle and kind spirit, was a natural born leader and a friend to all. Bill was a one-of-a-kind father, brother and husband. He lived an exemplary Christian life and his strong faith was apparent to all who met him. He taught many generations about the importance of Christian faith and his light will remain with us for generations to come. The family would like to thank the entire nursing and medical staff at UAB Medical Center, particularly Dr. Hassan Fatallah, Dr. James Markert, Dr. John Fiveash, and Cathy Casey, NP. Additionally, thank you to the Kirklin Clinic Oncology Staff and the Acton Road Infusion and Radiation Staff. Mostly, thank you to Marie, his special helper and caretaker at home; you have become a lifelong friend to us and thank you to the Palliative Care and Comfort Unit at UAB; you were a blessing to Bill and his family and have given us a great sense of peace and serenity. Bill was preceded in death by his mother, Annie Faye Martin Cash, and his father, William Elbert Cash, Sr. Survivors include Bill's best friend and wife of 43 years, Kathy Diane Galloway Cash; son, Matthew Eric Cash; daughter, Melissa Cash Cox; daughter-in-law, Courtney Boyle Cash; son-in-law, Shawn Allan Cox; grandsons, Matthew Davis Cash and Noah William Cox; granddaughter, Gracie Virginia Cash; sisters, Nancy Cash Swift and Carole Cash Cox; and brothers-in-law, William Lane Cox and George Randolph Swift. Other survivors include Bill's mother-in-law and father-in-law, Bob and Sue Galloway; brothers-in-law, Mike (Myra) Galloway and Rick (Sandy) Galloway; and aunt and uncle, Robert and Pauline Cash. Visitation will be 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Brookwood Baptist Church, 3449 Overton Road in Birmingham on Saturday, October 27, 2012. The graveside funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Sunday, October 28, 2012 at Southern Heritage Cemetery, 475 Cahaba Valley Road, Pelham AL 35124. Pallbearers will be Matthew Eric Cash, Shawn Allan Cox, George Randolph Swift, William Lane Cox, Robert Michael Galloway, and Ricky Dale Galloway. A memorial service celebrating Bill's life will be 2 p.m. on Sunday, October 28, 2012 at Brookwood Baptist Church, Birmingham. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts to The Gaining Life Initiative Foundation. Please make checks payable to Gaining Life Initiative, 1414 Marion Court, Birmingham AL 35242, or visit www.gaininglife.org in support of brain cancer research at UAB Hospital. "I have fought the good fight; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. Henceforth, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness." 2 Tim. 4: 7-8