Willard Fennell

The staff of Dorchester Funeral Home would like to extend its sincere condolences to the family of Mr. Williard Fennell. 

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. Revelation 21:4 

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.”

Revelation 21:1 (KJV)

Mr. Willard Fennell was born to the late Mr. Lepolis Fennell, Sr., and the late Mrs. Louise McMillan Fennell on February 6, 1938.  On September 10, 2021, while at the Jesup Health and Rehabilitation Center in Jesup, Georgia, Willard answered the Master’s call.

He was educated in the Liberty County School System and in 1958, Mr. Fennell joined the United States Airforce.  He was Honorably Discharged in 1962 after which he migrated to New Jersey and became a transport/delivery driver for Macy’s and other department stores.  He returned home to Georgia and worked 15 years for the Georgia Department of Health as a Custodian before retiring.

Brother Fennell joined Bethel AME Church at a young age and re-established his membership upon his return to Georgia.  Brother Willard “worked while it was day.”  After being elected as a Trustee, Brother Fennell took on the task of Church Custodian until the job became too great for one person.  He was one of the Trustees that helped lead Bethel into building its new Sanctuary and his name is etched in the cornerstone.  Brother Fennell was a member of the Church Sunday School and the Sons of Allen, Men’s Ministry.  He was also a member of the Senior/Gospel Choir and one of the early members of the Male Choir. He dearly enjoyed the participation in the Georgia/Florida Male Choir Union.  You could hear him say on any given time regarding the Male Choir’s performance that, “we smoked them!”

Mr. Fennell was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, Lee Fennell, Jr., John Fennell, and Harry A. Fennell, Sr., and two sisters, Tommie Lee Fennell, and Sarah Hunt.  He was the last of his immediate family.

He leaves to cherish his memory: one sister-in-law, Myrtis A. Fennell of Columbus; seven nephews, Larry Chatman (Amanda) of Ludowici, Mark Fennell, Sr. (Juana) of Augusta, Keith Malone Fennell, Sr. (Shelia) of Atlanta, Keith Hill and Derek Shelling of Columbus, John Shelling (Kimberly) of Groveland, Florida, and Harry A. Fennell, Jr. (Melissa) of Griffin; five nieces, 

Debra Chandler (Gary) of Acworth, Angela Fennell and Minnie Hiller-Cousins of Passaic, New Jersey, Kenya (Vincent) Wooden of Covington, and La’Quita Shelling of Stone Mountain; one uncle, Charles Taylor of Savannah; one aunt, Eldoris Jackson (Earnest) of Hinesville, other nephews and nieces, family members and friends.

A special thank you to close friends David Anderson, Sr., Richard Dowers, Class Leader Leroy Johnson, and caregivers Thomasina Grant and the staff of Jesup Health and Rehabilitation Center.