1934

Willis Dearret Bethay, Jr. was born June 25, 1934 in Greenwood, MS, son of Willis Derret Bethay, Sr., and Agnes Colvard Bethay.

1940 Census Information:

According to the United States Census reported on April 15, 1940, Willis D Bethay (31), rented a home in Greenwood, Leflore, Mississippi, with his wife; Agnes C Bethay (27) and son; Willis D Bethay, Jr. (5). All family members reported having been born in Mississippi except for Agnes who reported Louisiana as her birthplace. The family lived in the same house on April 1, 1935. Willis D Bethay was a salesman for the automotive industry and Agnes C Bethay was an assistant manager for a beauty culture.

2018

A visitation for Willis Dearret Bethay, Jr., 83, of Camden, SC, will be held from 6:00-7:30, Monday, January 8, 2018 at Kornegay Funeral Home, Camden Chapel. Memorials may be made to Epworth Children’s Home or Thiel-Meyer Pet Adoption Center or to a charity of one’s choice.

Willis died Saturday, January 6, 2018. He was born in Greenwood, MS, the son of the late Willis Derret Bethay, Sr., and Agnes Colvard Bethay. He served in the US Navy and retired from DuPont. He attended Marion Military Institute, Marion, Alabama, and graduated from Mississippi State University with a BS in Civil Engineering. Willis was a member of Lyttleton Street United Methodist Church.

Willis is survived by his wife of 59 years, Louise Riddell Bethay; children, Brenda Bethay Ponsard of Columbia, Samuel Colvard Bethay (Joyce Smith) of Walterboro and Margaret Bethay Carmosino (Chris) of Flowery Branch, GA; and grandchildren, Noah, Gabrielle and Isabella.

Kornegay Funeral Home, Camden Chapel, is in charge of the arrangements.