William Thompson Sneed Sr.

William Thompson Sneed Sr., 75, passed away on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012, after a courageous battle with congestive heart failure. A memorial service is planned for today at 2 p.m. to be held at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Greenville, with an interment of his ashes in the columbarium following the service. The family will receive friends and family immediately following the service at the home of David and Lori Sneed, 903 Compton Road, Greenville.
Bill was born on April 15, 1936, on a tobacco farm in Granville County, the son of Thomas Quincy Sneed Sr. and Evelyn Atkinson Sneed. He attended college at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. Following his marriage to Anne Beam of Raleigh, they lived for a short period in Oxford, and later Washington, N.C. before moving to Greenville in 1969. Bill served as the first Personnel Manager of the new Burroughs-Wellcome facility from 1969 through 1978, hiring many of the company's first employees. Bill left Burroughs-Wellcome in 1978 and started a successful executive recruitment firm, and later started Greenville's first temporary employment agency, Anne's Temporaries, with his wife. The two formed a remarkable team that served many of Greenville's top businesses and industries until their retirement in 2000.
Bill enjoyed playing golf for many years as a member at Brook Valley Country Club, and for a short time as a member of Cypress Landing. Bill also enjoyed an active membership at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Greenville, but he most cherished the time he spent traveling with his wife and their close friends, and the time he was able to spend with his children and ten grandchildren.
Bill is preceded in death by his parents, and his older brother, Dr. Thomas Quincy Sneed Jr.; and an infant child, Mary Kennon Sneed.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 50 years, Anne Beam Sneed, who was a completely devoted and loving wife, and tireless care-giver during the period of Bill's declining health. He is also survived by a sister, Sara and her husband, Jimmy Seate of Fuquay-Varina. Also surviving are his three children, Will and his wife, Karen, of Raleigh, David and wife, Lori, of Greenville, and daughter, Nancy and husband, Joey Gossett, of Greenville; grandchildren, Brandon Sneed and wife, Katie, of Greenville, Kramer Sneed, Kara Sneed, Logan Sneed, and Heidi Sneed, all of Raleigh; Allie Sneed, Hoyle Sneed, and Sam Sneed; and Taylor Gossett and Lenox Gossett, all of Greenville.
Bill also very much enjoyed his time spent with his special friends during the Morning Coffee Club at the Greenville Mall and his Thursday morning breakfast group that met at the Cracker Barrel. The family would also like to thank the doctors, nurses and staff at the PCMH Heart Institute for their kindness and medical care during his frequent stays.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Trinity Center, P.O. Drawer 380, Salter Path, NC 28757.
Online condolences at www.wilkersonfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements by Wilkerson Funeral Home & Crematory, Greenville.