William Byron Dillingham

William Byron Dillingham, 95, of Decatur, GA, died Thursday, March 27, 2025. A native of Atlanta, he was born to Cornelius and Emerald Storey Dillingham on March 7, 1930.

Bill attended public schools in Atlanta, GA. and worked as his first full-time job right out of high school for the Hartford Fire Insurance Company before he was drafted into the United States Army from 1950 through 1952 during the Korean Conflict. While in the service, he married on July 3, 1952, Elizabeth Joiner, whom he had known as a school mate since they were both in W. F. Slaton Elementary School near Grant Park. They would have been married 73 years in July. He graduated from Emory University with a bachelor's degree in 1955 and with a master's degree in 1956. After teaching for two years at Emory, beginning in 1956, he pursued and completed a Ph.D. degree from the University of Pennsylvania and returned to Emory to resume his position as instructor of English. Rising from the rank of instructor to a chaired professorship, he spent his entire career at Emory, which spanned forty years. During that period, he served three times as Chair of the Department of English. He retired with the position of Charles Howard Candler Professor of American Literature. After retirement, Dr. Dillingham continued to take an active part in the profession of letters, publishing books and a substantial number of articles to add to the long list of writings including several books and numerous articles on the literary subjects that he published before his retirement.

He is preceded in death by his wife; Marion Elizabeth Dillingham, and his parents; Cornelius and Emerald Storey Dillingham.

He is survived by two daughters; Rebecca Lynn Harbin of Decatur, GA, and Judith Ann Briggs of Stockbridge, GA, son; Dr. Paul Christopher Dillingham of Decatur, GA, four grandsons, a granddaughter, four great grandsons, and four great granddaughters.

Family and friends will gather at A.S. Turner & Sons Funeral Home & Crematory, 2773 N Decatur Rd Decatur, GA 30033, Wednesday April 2, 2025, from 1:00 PM until 2:00 PM. A celebration of life Service will begin at 2:00 in the chapel of A.S. Turner & Sons Funeral Home & Crematory. Interment will follow in Floral Hills Memory Gardens, 3150 Lawrenceville HWY Tucker, GA 30084.