William Frank Sistrunk

William Frank Sistrunk (Bill) passed away on May 15, 2025 in Madison, MS. He was born in Jackson, MS on December 4, 1933, the only child of John William Sistrunk and Pattie Patterson Sistrunk.
He was educated in the Jackson Public Schools and graduated from Central High School in 1951. He attended Millsaps College where he was a member of Kappa Alpha Fraternity and graduated in 1954. He then graduated from Tulane Medical School in 1957 and spent a year of Internship at Charity Hospital in New Orleans. In 1958, Bill joined the Navy and spent two years cruising the South Pacific on the USS Shelton as the doctor for a squadron of four destroyers. Throughout his life, he enjoyed telling many stories of his adventurous time in the Navy and of the precarious ways he was transported from ship to ship to care for the sick.
In 1960, he returned to Tulane in New Orleans to begin a Pediatric Residency. It was then that he was introduced by his mentor, Dr. Norman Woody, to his future bride, Sophie Weston of Beaumont, Texas who worked as a research assistant for Dr. Woody. Their first date was to the Ole Miss/LSU football game in Baton Rouge in 1961. He completed his residency in 1962 and entered practice at the Children's Medical Group in Jackson. He practiced there until his retirement in 1998.
A man of deep humility and abundant generosity, Bill served his family, his church and his community well. While practicing Pediatrics, he loved his work, his patients and was deeply devoted to children. With a gentle voice and a kind heart, he spent many years at the Mississippi Legislature trying to get laws passed for the benefit of children. He was most proud when mandatory vaccines were passed and when health insurance was to be provided to babies at birth. He was honored to be appointed as an Advisory Board member of the Children's Rehabilitation Center and the Statewide Health Coordinating Council. He was also pleased to serve as a member of the Mississippi Screening Program Advisory Committee pertaining to statewide new birth screening and as Chairman of the MS Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Bill was Chairman of the Tulane Pediatric Alumni Association and served many years on a voluntary basis as an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at UMMC beginning in 1962. After retirement, he spent time as a faculty member of the UMMC Department of Pediatrics from 1998-2002 where he retired as an Associate Emeritus.
Among his hobbies was stamp collecting, hunting, fishing, reading books about Teddy Roosevelt, travel and taking cruises with his family. He adored collecting model trains and took much enjoyment spending time with the Model Train Club and helping to build the model train exhibit at the MS Agriculture and Forestry Museum. He enjoyed his time with family and friends and was a great storyteller on many subjects.
Particularly special to him was his time spent as a Life Deacon at the First Baptist Church of Jackson. He was active with the Boy Scouts there and served as committee chairman for numerous years. Through the years, he spent time on various church projects to help the needy and to provide medicine for the underprivileged.
Throughout his life, Bill had a huge love for sweets and ice cream that he developed in his younger years when his first job was behind the counter at the soda fountain at Patterson Drug Store on Capitol Street. Sophie made certain she made a homemade pie or cake for him each night for his dessert. The family joke was that he never ate less than three pieces of the dessert each night but always insisted he wasn't eating that much but just "evening it up".
Bill is preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his adoring wife of 62 years, Sophie Weston Sistrunk and his three children, Will (Camille) Sistrunk, Sophie Sistrunk (Bailey) Braswell and Woody (Holly) Sistrunk. He leaves behind eight grandchildren, Bailey (Katelyn) Braswell, Christian (Brianna) Braswell, Katherine Sistrunk, Ann Weston Sistrunk (Mitchell) Cox, Will (Anna) Sistrunk, Rebecca Sistrunk (fiance Jake Orr), John Sistrunk and Lillian Sistrunk. Also, six great grandchildren, Rollins, Parker, Robby, Liam and Addie Braswell and Stella Sistrunk.
A most special thank you is extended to the entire staff of Siena 1 at St. Catherine's Village and to the nurses at Gentiva Hospice for their care, kindness and compassion.
There will be a family burial on Thursday, June 5 at the Chapel of the Cross in Madison, MS with a visitation there following from 5:00-7:00. A memorial service will be held on Friday, June 6 at First Baptist Church in Jackson at 11:00 where friends may call an hour before the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Children's of Mississippi, UMMC - Office of Development, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS 39216 or a charity of your choice.