Willie James Black

.It all began on June 15, 1945, on a hot summer day in Karnack, Texas, when Louvenia and Willie Black welcomed their first-born son, Willie James Black, into the world. Willie was a skinny boy, so his mother gave him the nickname Lipstick. He was so tough that he taught himself how to swim in the pond in the woods, and whenever he fought with his eldest sister, he would throw rocks and never miss. It was only when she could catch him that she could whoop him. Although he was something else growing up, he accepted the Lord at Antioch Baptist Church around ten years old. He played football and graduated from George Washington Carver High School in 1964.

In the summer of 1968 in West Dallas, Willie’s friend “Fats” introduced Willie to Verna Turner. You can say it was love at first sight, and their love continued to grow as Willie took Verna to see Johnny Taylor on their first date and spent the night dancing away. Willie would later accept 9-month-old Sandi Turner, Verna’s daughter from her previous marriage, as his daughter. Two years later, Willie and Verna welcomed their first-born daughter, Rhonda. With two young girls to support, Willie soon found his career at NCH Corporation, where he later retired. Patrina was born five years after Rhonda’s birth, and then the baby, Kimberly, arrived five years after Patrina. Willie shared many things with his family, such as his love for cooking, planting trees, gardening vegetables, and hunting for wild game with his brothers. He also made his own wine and beer and was a brown belt in Karate. His life was successful as the owner of Unique Hair Salon and an investor by nature.

In 1985, Rhonda gave Willie and Verna their first grandson, Rashod Black, but tragedy struck on January 19, 1987. Around one in morning, while everyone was asleep, their first home caught on fire. Willie and Verna saved Patrina and Kim, but unfortunately, they could not save Rhonda and Rashod. This was the most devastating period in Willie’s life. Unfortunately, after that tragic event, Willie and Verna separated, but they always remained friends and still celebrated all family events and holidays with their children and grandchildren. As their surviving daughters grew up to become married women, Willie was blessed with nine more grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren whom he loved and cherished.

Willie’s story has a happy ending because true love always endures. On November 15, 2018, Willie and Verna journeyed to the altar, and their broken family was restored forever. Their family flourished because of God’s amazing grace.

On Monday, August 26, 2024, Willie passed away in his sleep at 9 PM. There to welcome Willie’s arrival in heaven are his parents, Willie and Louvenia Black. His siblings, Billie Black, Willie Jewel Black,Shirley Ann Black, Kathryn Moore, Peggy Black and his twin brother, who died at birth, his daughter Rhonda Black and his grandson Rashod Black.

We who are left to cherish Willie’s memories are his wife, Verna Black; his daughters Sandi Turner (Tracey), Patrina Scales (Damion), and Kimberly Black (Orji); his sisters Geraldine Allen, Glenda Thomas (Robert), Cathy Everitt, Jackie Black-Hensley (Horace); his brothers Curtis Black (Lillian), Charlie McCray, Harold Black (Mary), and James Black (Linda); his grandchildren, Laquan Lambert, Dyron Turner (Jordan), Keyona Crutchfield (Derrick), Tyler Keys (Marcus), Nija Scales, Damion Scales Jr, King Micah Scales, Christopher Jones II, Trinity Jones, eleven great-grandchildren, and several nieces, nephews, cousins, mother-in-law, sisters-in-law, and brothers-in-law.