Willie Emmit "Axe Man" Ross

Services for Coach Willie E. "Axe Man" Ross, 80, of Lufkin, were held on Saturday, December 15, 2012 at Greater Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, with Reverend Rubin Ervin II officiating. Interment was held on a later date in the Town Bluff Community Cemetery in Spurger, Texas.

Coach Ross was born January 18, 1932 in Chester, Texas, the son of the late Obelia Harvey and Burnett Ross, Sr. He passed away Saturday, December 8, 2012 in a local hospital.

Coach Ross coached track and football. He loved working with kids and guiding then in the right direction. He taught and coached at H. J. Temple School in Diboll. He moved to Lufkin and coached and taught at Lufkin High School when the Lufkin high schools integrated. He could be seen walking in his neighborhood every day. He loved to talk and never met a stranger. Coach Ross was a member of Greater Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, where he served as superintendent.

Survivors include his wife, Thelma Ross of Lufkin; adopted daughter, Lanita Wheeler Brown and husband James of Orange; grandsons, Christopher Powell of Houston, Sha-Koven Hicks of Lufkin and Anthony Larkin of Dallas; granddaughter, Amorea Hicks of Lufkin; stepson, Larry Hicks; stepdaughter, Virginia A. Blanton; sister, Icierean Ross Wright and husband Herbert of Sandy Creek, Virginia; cousin, Grady Ross of San Diego, California; and a number of nieces, nephews, other family members and friends.

In addition to his parents, Coach Ross was preceded in death by his daughter, Heloise Ann Powell Ross; and brother, Burnett Ross, Jr.

Pallbearers were Jermie Phelips, Richard Martin, Jr., Keith Purvis, Johnnie Ross, John McClendon and Thomas Ryan Deaton.

Honorary pallbearers wre Clarence Kirkwood, Christopher Powell, Larry Hicks, William Martin, Clinton Martin and Grady Ross.