William Patrick “Bill” Freeman, 72, of Oxford, died July 26, 2024, at Sanctuary Hospice House in Tupelo following a courageous year of treatment for a rare and incurable form of cancer. Always a man with a plan, he had intended to live to be 100 and lived his last year as if he might.

A service of celebration will be held at Burns Belfry Museum on Sunday, September 1, at 2 p.m.

Bill was born November 9, 1951, in Dallas, Texas, to Patsy Davis and Raleigh Jerome “Jay” Freeman, the second of their three sons. He was a 1970 graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School in Dallas and of the accountancy program of North Texas State University. His professional life was spent in the field of public utility finance. His innovative programs and willingness to take calculated risks left a lasting impact on the utility business in Texas and beyond.

In retirement, Bill did what he really loved most: home renovations, his own and those of friends and family. Everyone who knew him has a story of something he built or repaired. Wearing his trademark hat, splattered with paint, and holding a hammer or power tool was his happy place.

After moving to Oxford from Austin, Texas, Bill immediately looked for opportunities, serving on the Oxford Planning Commission, the Tree Board, the Oxford Creek Homeowners Association, the Lafayette County Historical and Genealogical Society, the Lafayette County Digital Museum, and as an election official. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church.

Bill is survived by his wife Melinda and their blended family, Lisa Freeman (Frederick Robinson), Dory Phillips Sisson (Tim), and Adam Phillips (Zoe). He was Grandpa to AnnaLyse Robinson and Harry & Carter Sisson and Pa to Chloe and Archer Phillips. He leaves the grands with happy memories of adventures. He leaves the children with lessons in being fearless and loyal. He taught his family and friends the life lesson of, “Have you read the manual??”

He is survived by his Freeman Brothers Jay Freeman (Valerie) and Tim Freeman (Carol) and nephew Zach (Brynn and sons Hayes, Taylor, and Ellis) and niece Melanie; by Melinda’s siblings Wesley, Melissa, and Mollie and their families; and by his many Benson cousins and his Davis cousins. A service in Texas will be held in the fall at the Benson family “ranch” in Henly, Texas, the place he loved most in the world.

It was his wish that anyone wanting to donate in his memory do so to the Spina Bifida Association, 1600 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 800, Arlington, VA, 22209.

The family is grateful to oncologist Dr. Ryan Yates and to the infusion staff at Baptist Cancer Center; for nurses Tara, Angela, and Nita on the acute rehab wing at Baptist Hospital for their wise and tender treatment and advocacy; and to the many friends in Oxford who circled the wagons around us, our love and gratitude.