William (Bill) Watkins Merriman III

William Watkins Merriman III, son of the late, William Watkins Merriman, Jr. and Lois Jones Merriman, born on April 28, 1937 in Raleigh, North Carolina, was ushered into Heaven peacefully at home with his family on Monday, August 7th, 2023.

He is predeceased by his son, William Watkins Merriman IV; sister, Anne Merriman Cole; and nephew, David Merriman Cole.

Bill is survived by his wife of 63 years Sarah Morrison Merriman to carry on his spirit; sister, Shirley Merriman Faulk; nephew, William Bobbitt Faulk and wife Teresa Proctor Faulk; nephew, William Cyril Cole and wife Barbara Lind Cole; daughters, Catherine Hollister Merriman, Sarah Forrest Merriman, Connie Bradshaw Merriman; sons, John Milton Merriman and wife, Amy Tomlin Merriman, David Morrison Merriman and wife, Sarah Umstead Merriman. Bill was blessed with 11 grandchildren whom he adored, William Watkins Merriman V, Marguerite Bailey Merriman, Sarah Parker Umstead Merriman, David Morrison Merriman Jr, Philip Macon Merriman, Philip Thompson Green IV, William Merriman Green, Catherine Hollister Green, John Milton Merriman Jr., Tatum Hollister Merriman and Collier West Merriman.

Bill graduated from Needham Broughton High School in 1955 and attended the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill in 1959 where he was a member of Zeta Psi Fraternity and Gorgon’s Head Lodge and graduated from The University of North Carolina Law School. He served in the US Army at Fort Jackson, South Carolina and San Antonio, Texas. He moved back to Raleigh to begin his legal career as Raleigh City Prosecutor for the North Carolina Attorney General’s office followed by 54 years in private practice.

He retired to Wilmington, North Carolina where he attended Wrightsville Beach United Methodist Church and Walk in Faith Sunday School. He attended Lee Whitehurst’s Bible Study in Wilmington and Bible Study Fellowship in Raleigh for many years as he always enjoyed being immersed in God’s word. He will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him as he brought wisdom and humor on all occasions.

A celebration of life was conducted on Friday, August 25th at Wrightsville United Methodist Church at 10:00 am followed by a service in Raleigh at Edenton Street United Methodist Church at 4:00 pm. The family received visitors at the church following the ceremony.

In lieu of flowers, donate to Lower Cape Fear Hospice,1414 Physicians Drive Wilmington, NC 28401, in his honor.

Service arrangements in Wilmington by Andrews Mortuary and in Raleigh by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 Saint Mary's Street.