Remarks by Steve Holland at the
Memorial Service for
Willian Harrison "Willie" Gregory, Sr.
2:30 PM Friday, Dec. 9, 2005
First United Methodist Church-Okolona
Betty Sue, Kathy, Bill, Bob and all your families:
Like a good crop and a bountiful harvest, it was mighty hard to get enough of William
Harrison Gregory, Sr. I am deeply honored by you to share this occasion of celebrating
one of Chickasaw County's greats. As someone advertises, "Willie was the gift that
kept on giving."
At half past Noon on Wednesday, in that grand ole homestead atop the apex of Poverty Hill
Farm, Willie slumped in his chair at that fabulous kitchen table-and immediately crossed
over into glory! What a way for this big ole giant of a man to go. At home, just filled with
his sweetheart's famous potato soup and cornbread that he had shared including that famous one
of a kind Gregory style of fellowship-- with his dear friends, Ray Thornton and Hudson Bryan.
So simple -so straightforward-so decisively-so unrehearsed-so wide open!!! So like the Willie
Gregory we've all known and loved the whole of our lives.
87 and 1/2 years of pure legend in a split second was for the ages. So today, we find ourselves
clothed in the habiliments of death. We're sad and grieved because we're human. We're going to
miss the old codger. Underneath this beautifully woven Methodist Church Pall which signifies
equality in death-all boxed up in a splendidly handcrafted Solid Pecan Casket (which he would
raise heck about the cost of) lies the mortal remains of our beloved Willie Gregory. Yet, I'm
completely reassured today by the fact that it is life, not death, that is the real issue here.
It is easy to feel down and despondent over Willie's passing; however, think about what we had
and not what we have lost with his death and you will be blessed with one of the finest examples
of how to live -and how to die- I have ever known. Willie was half ham- so I think it appropriate
on his behalf to thank you for being here today to support his great family and to show your
respect for our honoree. He'd love it!! That is, if he could hear it. Matter of fact, he's hearing
better right now than ever. Willie always gave me the benefit of the doubt but only after excessive
ribbing. If he's told me once, he's told me a thousand times over the years, "Hey, sucker,
don't look at me like that. I know how you undertakers and politicians are. Always looking-always
recruiting-always taking in". I had told him for years we were going to wake him for days
on the patio at Poverty Hill if he ever crossed over. Well, the cold bleak winter weather halted
that but, thanks be to God, today's sunshine has smiled on us and this great crowd has assembled
in this celebrated sanctuary in which he has been a part of for 75 years and, Yes, Willie -all
is well! ! !
If Willie Gregory had lived in Hollywood, he would have already won an Oscar and a Grammy for
being the most perfect character these parts has ever produced. His sense of humor, his storytelling
and laughter and his love of life are among the things we need to cling to today. Ingrid Bergman,
the Swedish actress said, "Old age is like climbing a mountain. You climb from ledge to
ledge. The higher you get, the more tired and breathless you get, but your views become more
extensive." Willie never climbed too many mountains as far as I know but he did climb the
hills of Chickasaw County for 87 and ½ years and his views were truly remarkable. And,
the views from Poverty Hill alone are among the best anywhere in the country. The front of your
program is the view of the farm from the kitchen window and patio of the Gregory home. No wonder
this family is so close, so special and so significant amongst us. From that view, every night
is a Saturday night and every day a Sunday. Bob told me just last week his Dad ordered an extra
batch of fertilizer for the pastures explaining, "I want this place green by Spring. I don't
give a damn what it cost." That's our Willie, always optimistic-always in charge.
Willie loved the land and everything that sprang from it. He was proud to be a farmer and year
in and year out planted, nurtured the crops and waited for the harvest. He loved nature. He
was tough, dogged and frugal. He farmed in Chuquatonchee Bottom and that taught him many lessons
about life: about chance, change and renewal, about survival, hardships and hard work, about
acceptance and rejection, about curses and blessings, about winning and losing. But, more than
anything, he learned how to play the game. Thomas Jefferson once said, "Those that till
the soil are the chosen people of God." I believe that and I believe that Willie Gregory
was among the chosen and he has now reaped the perfect harvest.
Willie was the epitome of what Tom Brokaw wrote about as the "Greatest Generation."
He was united by common purpose and common virtues: duty, honor, economy, courage, service,
love of family and country, and, above all else, responsibility for one's self. He was a
man's man. He did common things in uncommon ways-usually his way!! What you saw is what you
got-no pretense, no doubt. The boys laughed and said he often had a champagne and caviar
attitude but he always wanted to operate on a beer and hotdog budget. His squeezing of a buck
is the substance of great lessons for today's generation.
Did you ever ride anywhere with Willie? He was slow as Christmas!! Betty Sue said he would
insist in the hot Mississippi summers that she ride all over the bottoms with him to survey
the crops. He would drive 5 mph and comment on every clod of dirt and stalk of cotton,
soybeans or com. No air conditioning. He called it shared suffering. She often wanted to kill
him!! Harrison swears he has put at least one dent in every vehicle and piece of machinery at
Poverty Hill Farm. Where are you going, Pap Paw, the grandkids would ask, "Wait and See"
was always Willie's answer.
Winston Churchill once said, "The nose of a bulldog was made slanted backwards so that he
could breathe without letting go." Willie was a bulldog and he never let go when he made
his mind up. In business and pleasure, he was fully engaging, fully in charge and the life of
the party. An adult beverage was always in order at Poverty Hill-morning, Noon or Night. Matter
of fact, Willie and Betty Sue's world famous fellowship (y'all know, what everyone else calls sin,
we Methodists like to think of as fellowship) almost cost me my life when the late Clyo Gann met
me on the steps of Boone's Chapel Church late to start a funeral cause I had been fellowshipping
with the Gregory's. I know of few homes more inviting, more user friendly than the confines of
the homestead at Poverty Hill. Willie, Betty Sue and their family wrote the book on Southern
hospitality.
We will all miss Willie. Betty Sue, what a couple you two were for 59 years. Good looking and
happy with a beautiful family. Betty Sue even shared that tough ole Willie would even bring coffee
and the morning paper to her in bed. What a gentlemen, what a husband. It's just what unfolds
when strong German Catholics mix with Mississippi Clodhopper rednecks!! We treasure our friendships
with all of you and we love you.
Kathy, Bill and Bob-your Daddy was also our daddy. We loved him, respected him and invested
heavily in him just as you certainly did. And, rest assured, we share your loss today.
Grandchildren, What a Pap Paw! He just looked the role -acted the role- and lived and loved
the role like no other. You brought real meaning to the word PRIDE for him and he loved all
of you with a passion.
Friends, if Willie Gregory was on your side-you had the strongest of allies and closest of
friends. If not, better gird your loins!! He was a tenacious foe. He once said to me it is
good to forgive your enemies but you darn sure don't have to forget their names!!
Willie, with unexpected suddenness, left us on Wednesday. Or is he really gone! I can't help
but find strength in the sadness today for it was my honor to know and love this great man. We
can raise a toast today, and that's what he would want us to do -and thank God for his 87
and ½ year pilgrimage amongst us. An unknown author said this on behalf of his father
at his death. It fits Willie perfectly.
Today is a good day to die;
Every living thing is in harmony within me;
Every voice sings a chorus within me;
All beauty has come to rest in my eyes;
All bad thoughts have departed from me;
Today is a very good day to die;
My fields have been turned for the last time;
My House is filled with laughter;
My children and grandchildren have all come home.
Yes, today is a very good day to die.
King David in the Old Testament lamented the death of his son but found solace in the fact
that, "while he cannot come back to us, we can go to him" Willie Gregory has made
the trip. We can believe as he did and someday go to him. If you don't believe this,
just "Wait and See."
