William Marion Waddle

William Marion Waddle, 89, passed away Saturday, March 15, 2025, at Huntsville Hospital Hospice Family Care. He was born January 22, 1936, to Arthur Lafayette Waddle and Lela Gertrude Wood Waddle. On May 29, 1954, Marion married the love of his life, Nadine Taylor. Together they welcomed three children, Dudley, Barbara, and Pat.
Mr. Waddle had many names over the years. To his family, he was known as Marion. During his academic years, he was called William. To the congregations he pastored, he was Bro. Waddle and Dr. Waddle. Later, on the mission field, he was called Bill. His most treasured titles were Daddy, Pop, Papaw, and Papaw Bill to the different generations who loved him most.
He attended Blue Mountain College, Luther Rice Seminary, and New Orleans Baptist Theology Seminary and achieved his Doctorate in Ministry. Dr. Waddle pastored for 20 years collectively at Jones Chapel Baptist Church, Nettleton, MS, New Hope Baptist Church, Hatley, MS, West Ripley Baptist Church, Ripley, MS, Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, New Albany, MS, and Emmanuel Baptist Church, Grenada, MS. While pastoring, he served as a Board Member of the Mississippi Baptist Convention and chairman of the Minister Relations Committee for the north half of Mississippi. He was also a resource person for the Cooperative Program Department of the Mississippi Baptist Convention. For 15 and a half years, Bill and Nadine served with the International Mission Board, Southern Baptist Convention in Uganda, East Africa.
In addition to being a faithful servant of the Lord, Mr. Waddle was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. His favorite pastimes were fishing and watching sports and westerns on television. He loved pulling a good joke, especially on his family members. Papaw most enjoyed attending the various activities of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Bill was a member of Fairview Baptist Church, Athens,AL.
Services will be at 2:00 pm, on Thursday March 20, 2025, at Senter Funeral Home, Fulton, MS, with Dudley Waddle and Carter Whiteside officiating. Visitation will begin at 12:00 noon, Thursday, March 20, in the Senter Funeral Home parlor. Burial will follow at Salem Baptist Church Cemetery, Golden, MS.
Survivors include his wife of almost 71 years, Nadine Taylor Waddle of Madison, AL; children: Dudley Marion (Valerie) Waddle of Knoxville, TN, Barbara Lynn (Carter) Whiteside of Athens, AL, Patricia Leigh (Steve) Ashley of Oxford, MS; grandchildren: Charles William Waddle, Brandi Lynn Waddle Rogers, Erin Maria Whiteside Chambless, Ethan Carter Whiteside, Evan Taylor Whiteside, Amanda Leigh Ashley, Stephanie Elizabeth Ashley Glover; 14 great-grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews and other relatives.
He is preceded in death by his parents: Arthur L. and Lela G. Waddle and sisters: Hilda W. Johnson, Mildred W. Wilson, Marie W. Johnson.
Pallbearers will be his grandsons and grandsons-in-law. Chuck Waddle, Ethan Whiteside, Evan Whiteside, Patrick Chambless, Danny Rogers, Robert Maxwell and Cody Glover. Memorials can be made in his honor to: Lottie Moon Christmas Offering at www.imb.org or your favorite Mission Organization.
The family wants to say a very special Thank You to all the staff and residents of Heritage Assisted Living, Madison, AL, and the staff of Select Therapy, Madison, AL, for their constant love, care and devotion. We also want to thank Huntsville Hospital and Huntsville Hospital Hospice Family Care.
Matthew 25:23 His master said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master. Online condolences can be expressed at www.senterfuneraldirectors.com