William "Bill" Franklin Prickett

Mr. William “Bill” Franklin Prickett was born in Clay County, Alabama, on July 20, 1930, the second child and oldest son of Willie John and Maudie Mae Dison Prickett.  Franklin (as his family called him) spent his childhood going to school, working and playing with his brother and sisters at their family home in Clay County, Alabama.   As an older teen, he drove the school bus and picked up children along dirt country roads each morning for school.   He loved each of his Bibb Graves classmates and planned a 70^th reunion several years ago for the six classmates that were still living.  Each of them traveled to the school and celebrated together – it was like they had never missed a day of seeing each other in those 70 years.  

After high school, he joined the military (where his name was changed to Bill) and was stationed in Alaska.  He often joked that he fought in the “Eskimo war”!  Bill moved to Detroit with some of his Army buddies after leaving the service.   On a trip home to Alabama, he went on a double date with a girl named Louise. While heading back to Detroit after one of those trips home, he turned around about an hour up the road when he realized he didn’t want to live his life without Louise.   Bill and Louise were married in 1955 and moved to Rome, Georgia, where he worked for Georgia Kraft and played in three basketball leagues – PTA, Trinity Methodist Church, and a semi-pro league.  He always said it was no wonder his knees were worn out after he got older!   He and Louise had three children and moved their family to Phenix City, Alabama in 1967 to help open Alabama Kraft in Cottonton, Alabama.  Bill worked at the paper mill in Cottonton until his retirement in 1992 at the age of 62.   

Bill loved Jesus and was a faithful and active member of Epworth Church, Phenix City, Alabama.  He was a true Auburn man who believed in hard work, education and his country.  His favorite times were those spent with his friends and family and most especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  He will be remembered for his jokes and his kind heart and will be missed by all who knew him.

Bill was predeceased by his parents; his wife of 52 years and the mother of his children, Louise McKibbon Prickett; his granddaughter-in-law, Jamin Ingram Martin; and his siblings: Louneil Prickett Horne, James Morgan Prickett, and Irene Prickett Hayes.

 He is survived by his sister, Ann Prickett Hopkins, of Talladega, Alabama; his children, Sherry Prickett (Steve) Martin, Sheila Prickett (Jeff) Ezell; and William Scott (Cathy) Prickett; grandchildren Stephanie Louise (Tyler)Thompson, Estin Clayton (Kaylee) Martin, William Carlton (Jennifer) Prickett, and Callie Prickett all of Phenix City, Alabama; Brittany Martin (Bill) Turner of Carrolton, Georgia; Jared Lane (Bethany)Martin and Aaron Christopher Johnson of Birmingham, Alabama; Dison Kendrick Martin of Kansas City, Missouri; Brian Coleman Ezell of Boston, Massachusetts.  Great Grandchildren:  Breckyn Slay Waller, Olivia Kimberley Martin, Ruby Nichole Turner, William Jackson Prickett, Mollie Lane Martin, and Mary Carlton Prickett.   Numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends whom he loved dearly.

Funeral services, directed by Vance Brooks of Phenix City, will be held Wednesday, May 29^th at Epworth Church, Phenix City, Alabama at 2:00PM EST.  A visitation for family and friends will be held one hour before the funeral service beginning at 1:00PM EST at Epworth Church.  Burial will be at Ft. Mitchell National Cemetery on Thursday, May 30, 2024 at 11:00AM where he will be laid to rest with Louise.   

Bill’s family would like to express their gratitude to his caregivers, Vilene and Willene; Columbus Hospice; and Dr. Greg Foster for their loving care.  Donations in his memory should be sent to Epworth Church, PO Box 430, Phenix City, Alabama 36867-0430 or Columbus Hospice, 7020 Moon Road, Columbus, GA   31909 in memory of William Franklin Prickett.  

To leave condolences online, visit www.vancebrooksfuneralhome.net