Billy Wayne Pennington

Funeral services for Bill Pennington, 82, of Athens, are scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, at Hannigan Smith Funeral Home, with Bro. Perry Smith officiating. He will be laid to rest during a private ceremony at Larue Cemetery under the direction of Hannigan Smith Funeral Home.

Mr. Pennington passed away on December 24, 2025, in Athens.

Billy Wayne Pennington was born on August 5, 1943, in Dallas, Texas, the son of Eugene Noah Pennington and Blanche (Corbitt) Pennington. He graduated from Milby High School in 1961 and worked in sales with American Can Company, Dyna Systems, and was a car salesman in Austin. Bill was a member of Lake Athens Baptist Church and, in his free time, enjoyed working in the yard and giving people a hard time, especially his wife and his adopted daughter Janine. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother and sister-in-law, Gene and Joyce Pennington; his adopted son, Randy Shelton; and his sister-in-law, Linda McCollum.

Survivors include his wife, Connie Pennington of Athens; his children, Penny Weeks and husband Bill of Stillwater, Oklahoma and Shelly Thornhill of Houston; his adopted daughter, Janine Shelton Wheeler and husband Tim of Athens; his brother-in-law, David McCollum; his granddaughter, Kamle Pennington; his adopted grandsons, Jerry Shelton and Mark Shelton; his adopted families, Joe and Jeannette Loper and Mark and Debbie Hanson; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be held from 6-8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, at Hannigan Smith Funeral Home.

The family extends their deepest gratitude to Deann, Lilly, and Kenia of Sparkling Care, as well as to Hospice Plus, for the compassionate and exceptional care provided to Mr. Pennington.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home family.