William Clayton Hackney

William Clayton Hackney (Bill/Billy), 78, of Farmville, Va., died unexpectedly Friday, December 6, 2024. He was born July 18, 1946 in Brooklyn, NY. He is predeceased by his partner of 32 years, John H. Iannotti, his parents, Warren Clayton Hackney and Gloria Palese Hackney, a nephew, Chad Hackney, a sister, Theresa Roach, brother-in-law, Hank Meyer, and sister-in-law, Marlene Hackney. He is survived by siblings Rosemary, Jimmy, Richard (Chrissy), Donnie (Melody), Warren (Patti) and Roland (Michelle), sister-in-law Barbara Silvestri, numerous nieces and nephews, neighbor friends of Goodson Manor, fellows of Farmville Pride, and friends of the public library, Longwood University, and Farmville community where he resided for the past 10 years. Bill grew up in Washington, D.C. then moved to New York and Rhode Island, where he was employed by Brown University and found his passion for helping college students. Bill’s earliest jobs involved working numerous paper routes with his sister Rosemary, working in a market with his mother and being employed by the National Theater on Pennsylvania Avenue in D.C. as a teen where he was paid in admission tickets and developed his love of theater, Broadway and opera, of which he was a lifelong fan and supporter. Bill enjoyed traveling and recounting special trips with John to Cape May, New Orleans, London and elsewhere. He was an avid reader and a passionate historian, specifically of Victorian and early-American periods. He enjoyed time at the casino, regular trips to the theater and cinema, talking to friends around town and being together with family. He will be missed by many. 

Family and friends are invited to gather Saturday, December 14, 2024, at Puckett Funeral Home in Farmville for a time of visitation and viewing at 3pm, followed by an informal service and time of sharing at 4. Burial is to follow at a later date in Rhode Island.