William Nelson "Wick" Searcy

1942 - 2018

William "Wick" Nelson Searcy, 76, died on Sunday, December 3, 2018. Wick was born on June 26, 1942 in Moultrie, Georgia. Growing up in Thomasville, Georgia with his brothers Floyd, Ashburn, and John Frank, little Wick enjoyed hunting, playing golf, school, and general mischief. At a young age, Wick brought a sense of duty and responsibility into whatever he sought to achieve. An Eagle Scout by age thirteen, Wick set about on a life marked by achievement. After graduating from Thomasville High School, Wick's stellar academic record and love for the Bulldogs brought him to the University of Georgia, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics in 1964. He served as the Number One for Kappa Alpha, was editor of the Pandora, and was a member of Gridiron, ODK, and Blue Key. Wick attended University of Georgia School of Law and graduated in 1967. In that same year, he married Ms. Camille Dorrill Heery of Savannah. They moved to Saint Louis, Missouri where Wick obtained a Masters of Law in Taxation from Washington University School of Law.

Wick began his military service by entering flight school at the Reese Air Force Base in Lubbock, Texas. Returning to Savannah, Wick started his law career with Bouhan, Williams, and Levy. He later joined Brannen, Searcy, & Smith, where he was proud to practice law for the remainder of his career, a gentleman's lawyer. Wick embarked on a career of military service in the Georgia Air National Guard that would see him achieve the rank of Major General and serve as the commander of the 165th Air Wing, where he displayed a singular appreciation for the men and women in uniform who sacrificed their time and lives in service to their county. He retired as the Commander, Georgia Air National Guard and Assistant Adjutant General, Air.

Wick was an active member in his community with highlights including Past President of the Rotary Club of Savannah West, member of the University of Georgia Foundation Board of Trustees, chairman of the board of the National Museum of the Mighty 8th Air Force, past Chairman of the Board of Citizens Bank in Cairo, Georgia, and member for many years of both the Savannah Golf Club and Oglethorpe Club.

Wick was preceded in death by his parents Floyd Hartsfield Searcy and Anna Pidcock Searcy, and brother John Frank Searcy of Thomasville, Georgia. He is survived by his wife of 52 years Camille Heery Searcy, daughter Amelia Searcy Harper, and son-in-law John Patrick Harper III of Savannah, brothers Floyd Searcy of Cairo, Georgia and Dr. Ashburn Searcy of Atlanta, Georgia, sister-in-law Myrtle Wise Heery, and nephew Jamie Emerson-Heery of Petaluma, California, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.

There will be a visitation held at Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Chapel on Tuesday, December 4 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. The funeral service will be held at Wesley Monumental United Methodist Church on December 5 at 2:00 p.m. A graveside service will follow at the Greenwich section of Bonaventure Cemetery.

The family requests that contributions be made to the National Museum of the Mighty 8th Air Force, 175 Bourne Avenue, Pooler, Georgia 31322 or The University of Georgia Foundation, Foundation Fellows, 394 South Milledge Avenue, Athens, Georgia 30602.

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