William Heywood Jerkins

William Heywood Jerkins, 93, of Americus, GA, went to be with his Lord on Thursday, December 4, 2025, at the Willson Hospice House in Albany.

Visitation will be held at 11:30 AM on December 10, 2025, at Amazing Grace Baptist Church, 947 Felder St., Americus with funeral services immediately following at 12:30 PM. Bro. Troy Fripp, Rev. Randall LaRoche and Rev. Tim Cadenhead will officiate. Burial will follow at Andersonville National Cemetery at 2:00 PM

Heywood was born March 17, 1932, in Phenix City, AL., son of Arson “Son” and Roxie Jerkins. He was a veteran of the United States Navy serving as an aircraft mechanic from 1951 until 1953 when his father passed and he had to return home to care for his mother and run his father’s business. After returning from the military, Heywood worked a variety of jobs, including managing his father’s store, working at the Phenix City cotton mill, operating a service station with his brother-in-law, serving as a mechanic at Hayes Aircraft in Birmingham, AL, and eventually joining the Retail Credit Company. During this time he also met the love of his life, Shirley, who he married on July 2, 1955. In the mid-1960s, Heywood transferred to Americus while still working for Retail Credit. After moving, Heywood began laying brick as a hobby. As he began to get more work, he quit his job at Retail Credit and went into masonry work full time building houses, businesses, and fireplaces, all over the Americus area. Though it was hard, he enjoyed this work immensely and says it was the best job he ever had. He remembered every job he ever did and would always point them out and share his memories about them. In 1980, Heywood went to work for Proctor and Gamble paper mill in Oglethorpe, GA where he retired in 1997.

Heywood loved working with his hands and always had a project going. From laying brick to woodworking, he was skilled in many areas. Everywhere you look, there is evidence of his handiwork. He also had a love for the outdoors and enjoyed camping, fishing, yard work, and gardening. One of his favorite hobbies was fishing. He spent many of his retirement days in a boat on Rood Creek with his lifelong best friend/brother-in-law, Lu Cadenhead. If you ever met Heywood, you KNOW he loved to tell stories. With 93 years of life, he had lots of stories to tell and had the amazing ability to remember the most minute details (such as the Labor Department building in Americus is made of 28,000 bricks). Most importantly, Heywood remained faithful to his church serving as a deacon at Amazing Grace Baptist Church until his death. He was an affectionate man who loved his family, especially his wife whom he took great joy in spoiling.

He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Shirley Jerkins of Americus; one sister, Helen Cadenhead of Phenix City; two sons, Jeff Jerkins (Paula) of Savannah and Brett Jerkins (Beth) of Americus; one son-in-law, Donald Ritch of Americus; six grandchildren, Kristin Black, Kerri DeVane, Michael Jerkins, Chad Jerkins, Will Jerkins, and Dillan Jerkins; 8 great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by one daughter, Becky Ritch of Americus and one brother-in-law, Lu Cadenhead.

In lieu of flowers, his family request contributions to Amazing Grace Baptist Church.