Henry William "Bill" Bellows Jr.

Henry "Bill" William Bellows, Jr., 57, of Hattiesburg, MS passed away at home surrounded by loved ones on January 31, 2024, as he requested after a long fight with cancer. Bill was born on August 14, 1966 in Birmingham, AL and was the first born child of Henry "Hank" William Bellows, Sr. and Beverly Young Bellows. The family relocated to the West Bank of New Orleans, where the Bellows raised their 5 children.
Bill graduated from Jesuit High School. He always maintained a job to earn his own money-once even taking on 3 jobs to earn the next year of tuition after receiving a "D" on a report card, to which his Dad told him he would have to pay it himself if he was going to make such grades.
Bill quite the entrepreneur. Once, during World Hunger Day, when lunches would not be provided at school, Bill took it upon himself to feed the masses. He set up shop across the street from the school, selling hotdogs and hamburgers to his classmates. He was very much a character in high school. His mother Beverly can certainly tell plenty of stories about her son's escapades. However, she says if grounded, "he always took his punishment well" and remained respectful to his parents always. Bill loved his parents and family dearly. He was proceeded in death by his father, Henry "Hank" William Bellows, Sr.
In his youth he played various sports including baseball, football and competitive swimming. Bill loved the Cubs and almost cried with joy when they won the World Series. He was a faithful fan of the New Orleans Saints and loved going to Saints games. Fishing was his favorite hobby and he started at a young age fishing for trout and redfish with his Dad at Port Sulfur. Most recently guys from his fraternity picked him up for a fishing trip in Venice. To the end, he talked about fishing and continued to receive a monthly bait box for that next trip.
After graduation from Louisiana Tech University with a Finance degree, Bill excelled in retail and regional management. He was last employed by Walmart, first in New Orleans and then in Mississippi where promoted to Store Manager. He loved working with the crew and customers at Walmart and still receives texts with prayers and love from the people he impacted there.
Bill Bellows was a good man. He had his regrets but always made amends where he could. He was loved by many. He took care of his friends and was the first to offer a helping hand to a friend, employee, or family member in need. He will be deeply missed by those whose lives he touched but he asked that we all celebrate his life together, and for us to know how much he loved us all. We called him the "Social Butterfly" because he was everyone's friend, and he never met a stranger. The more the merrier for any gathering was Bill's policy. "Life is good" was Bill's motto and he lived it fully with his friends and family.
Although they met later in life, Susan, his wife and "Forever girl", as he called her, was his best friend and he was hers. Bill always said it must have been a "God thing" when they met because she became the love of his life. She was then given the name "Super-duper girl" during his 4 year battle with cancer. He outlasted most with his diagnosis and fought hard, with Susan by his side. Today she believes he must be dancing with the angels with renewed strength and vigor.
Bill is survived by his loving wife, Susan Jeanne Bellows, and his adored daughter, Alexis Bellows Goodman (Travis). He expressed how proud he was of Alexis as she completed college, took on an impressive career, married, and became a mother to Autumn Rose Goodman, his granddaughter. Although first marriages did not last, Bill's love was long lasting. He helped raise and love all of his acquired children; Ashley Baugus (Mickel), Aaron Baugus (Ashley), Michelle King (Zac), and Matthew Legg (Nicole). He is also, survived by his mother, Beverly Young Bellows, and four siblings; Rebecca Crawford (Mike), Bethany Bowden (Sid), Brent Bellows (Ashley), Blythe Lamonica (Neal), and a host of beloved nieces and nephews.