Mr. Willie Pope Jr.

At the young age of ten, Willie joined the Old Grow Baptist Church in Chesapeake, VA where he accepted Christ. He grew up in Norfolk County, VA and received his formal education in Norfolk County Public Schools until 1949. After high school, he joined the military and served three years in the Army from 1950 - 1953.

Willie moved to Washington DC in 1959. He met the love of his life Ethell and married in 1965, they remained married for 50 years until she made a peaceful transition from labor to reward in 2015. From this union they had five children; Willie also had two sons prior to his marriage to Ethell Pope.

Willie worked in the construction industry as a cement mason from 1955 until he became ill in 2005; he joined the Plasterers & Cement Masons, Local Union 891 in 1959 and remained a dedicated member for 62 years. He was also employed at the Government Printing Office from 1980 – 1983, and continued to do small contract jobs throughout his work life.

In his early years, Willie enjoyed completing home improvement projects around the house, of course, mostly at the request of his wife Ethell. Anyone who knew Mr. Pope knew that there was a home improvement project going on every year from enclosing the garage and front porch to completely renovating the back yard from a muddy unleveled space to a cemented multi-level patio area with a huge custom built in brick grill. Mr. Pope was very skilled and creative in his craft.

In his later years, he lived a simple life cherishing all of the fun visits from family, friends and especially his great grandchildren. He could not believe how much they had grown, since the last visit. He also loved listening to music (oldies and jazz) and watching TV (sports (football – REDSKINS FAN), daily news, movies and reality TV) with his faithful dog Lucky by his side.

Willie was also preceded in death by his wife Ethell Pope, brother Michael Pope and son William Anthony Pope. He will forever be remembered by his three sons, Melvin (Phyllis) Jones, Chesapeake, VA; Benny (Carol) Brite, Virginia Beach, VA; Ronnie Fitzgerald Pope, Washington DC; three daughters, Jacqueline “Niecey” Newton, Glenarden, MD; Tanya Renee Dorsey, Washington DC; Angela Karen Pope, District Heights, MD; fourteen grandchildren, Tamara (Rodney) Langston, Virginia Beach, VA; Michael Shields, Chesapeake, VA; Tony Brite, Virginia Beach, VA; Carlos Brite, Torrance, CA; Stanley (Renee) Newton, Jr., Tuscaloosa, AL; Melvin Jones, Jr., Chesapeake, VA; Dante Kidd, Washington, DC; Antwane Pope, District Heights, MD; Colby Brite, Virginia Beach, VA; Whitney Rogers, Germantown, MD; Brandon Jones, Chesapeake, VA; Tiara Boyd, Teyana Dorsey and Treysean Dorsey Washington, DC; and sixteen great grandchildren; two sister-in-laws, Hattie Mae Hill, Washington DC and Margaret Hill, Petersburg, VA; one brother-in-law George Kent Mason, Saluda, SC; a very special cousin (brother/best friend) Robert Thomas Taylor, Ft. Washington, MD and a host of nieces, nephews family and friends.

Daddy will be missed dearly, but the fond memories of him will always comfort our hearts. We loved him, but God loved him best.