ETHELBERT N. MCWILLIAMS SR.

God in His wisdom summoned home on Saturday, December 31, 2016, our beloved father, grandfather and brother, Mr. Ethelbert Nevins McWilliams, Sr. of 3305 Brooks Park Drive, South Prince George, Va. He was born March 30, 1933, to the late Enoch and Violet Waller.

At an early age, he accepted Christ at the First Baptist Church Bermuda Hundred, Chester, Va. He later became a member of the Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, Petersburg, Va., until his health declined. There he served as an usher.

Bert attended the Chesterfield County Public Schools. He worked for Blue and Gray Trucking Company, Richmond, Va. He also worked at Philip Morris (Altria), Richmond, Va., where he retired. He served in the U.S. Army and during that time he toured in Korea.

He enjoyed traveling to many states where his son and family were stationed through the years. He enjoyed driving, staying busy and doing yard work. He really took pride in keeping his lawn beautiful; not wanting any footprints on the grass. He also took pride in keeping his cars and trucks clean.

Bert was preceded in death by his beloved and devoted wife of 60 years, Shirley Wright McWilliams and his sister, Helen McWilliams King.

Bert leaves to cherish his loving memories, a devoted daughter, Sharon McWilliams of South Prince George, Va.; two devoted sons, Ethelbert "Nevins" McWilliams, Jr. of South Prince George, Va., and Colonel (USAF RET.) Marc McWilliams (Cherrille) of Moseley, Va.; one grandson, SSGT (USAF) Jamien McWilliams of San Angelo, TX; two granddaughters, Taylor and Taniya McWilliams, both of Moseley, Va.; one brother, James McWilliams (Ruth) of Chester, Va.; goddaughter, Tanya Justice of Salisbury, Md.; five sisters-in-law, Flora Cooper of Petersburg, Va., Dorothy D. Wright and Joyce Johnson (Larry), both of Brooklyn, NY, Jean Massenburg (Thurman) of Ettrick, Va., and Ernestine Wright (Don) of Fairfax, Va.; brother-in-law, Ernest Wright of Petersburg, Va.; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends, among them Mr. and Mrs. Dannie Weaver of Laurinburg, NC, Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Parker, and Mr. and Mrs. Bill Williams all of South Prince George, Va.

Services for Mr. Ethelbert N. McWilliams, Sr. will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, January 6, 2017, at Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, 800 Augusta Avenue, Petersburg, Va., the Rev. Dr. Wesley K. McLaughlin, Pastor, eulogist. Interment to follow at Virginia Veterans Cemetery.

A wake service will be held from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, January 5, 2017, at the funeral establishment.

The family will assemble at 10 a.m. the day of the service and receive friends at 3305 Brooks Park Drive, South Prince George, Va.

Family members and friends are invited to pay final tribute to Mr. McWilliams at www.jmwilkersonsince1874.com.

Funeral arrangements entrusted to the staff of J.M. Wilkerson Funeral Establishment, Inc., 102 South Avenue, Petersburg, Va., (804) 732-8911, www.jmwilkersonsince1874.com.