Willie Ernest Driver

Willie Ernest Driver, age 83, of Northport, Ala., passed away October 22, 2025, at his residence. Graveside services with Military Honors will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday, October 30, 2025, at Alabama National Cemetery in Montevallo, Ala., with Magnolia Chapel North directing.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Newt and Alpha Mae Driver of Decatur, Ala.; and sister and brother-in-law, Evelyn and Jack Pearson of Calera, Ala.

Survivors include his wife, Frances Gray Driver; daughter, Bethany Driver of East Sussex, England; son, Robert E. Driver (Shirley) of Northport, Ala.; sister, Mavis Richardson (Larry) of Florence, Ala.; brothers in friendship, John Scales, Joseph Lanier, Mark Latham, Don Drasheff, all members of the 20th SF Group; grandchildren, Leighann Driver, and Christopher Driver; great-grandchildren, Braden and Kyleigh Hood of Woodstock, Ala.; sisters-in-law, Faye Gray of Talulah Falls, Ga., Betty Truitt of Marietta, Ga., Pauline Parrish (Jerry) of Thorsby, Ala., and Carolyn Gray of Mason, Texas; and a host of loving nieces and nephews.

Willie joined the 20th Special Forces while he was a Chilton County High School senior. Willie was forever grateful to be an adopted child of the King and proud to be an American.

He dearly loved his wife of 62 years, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, his birth family and his family by marriage, friends, and neighbors. Willie was a kind, gentle, and humble man and loved by all who knew him. He was a hard-working and talented man who enjoyed the beauty of nature, working with his hands, Biblical history, World history, American history, military history, traveling, and gardening. He not only enjoyed Biblical history, but his loved Biblical TRUTH. He also enjoyed spending time with family and friends, and competitive marksmanship with the Tuscaloosa Gun Club friend, Barry Fikes.

Pallbearers will be the Military Honor Guard.

Honorary pallbearers are John Scales, Joseph Lanier, Mark Latham, Don Drasheff, Barry Fikes, Christopher Driver, and Braden Hood.

The family wishes to thank Dr. James Davies and staff of UAB, Dr. Stephen Browne and staff of Northport Internal Medicine, Amedisys Home Health, Amedisys Hospice, Linda and Ray Blackwood, Phillip Blackwell, and Northport Fire Department.

Your continued prayers would be greatly appreciated as the family grieves for the loss of this dear man.

Thank you, Jesus, for your Amazing Grace.