Confederatevets.com

Lieut. W. J. Willingham, a member of Jim Pirtle Camp, U. C. V., of Fulton, Ky., the last of four brothers who served the Confederacy in the sixties, fell on sleep the night of July 31, 1921, after a few days' illness. He had reached the age of eighty-six years; was born and lived nearly all of his time in Graves County, Ky., with the exception of the last seventeen months.

When war was decalred in 1861, Comrade Willingham volunteered his services to his country; but as Kentucky had not then gone into the fray, he joined the 12th Tennessee as a member of Company E, and fought with them twelve months in the rearguard; he was then transferred to the 3rd Kentucky for the rest of the war, and was paroled on June 22, 1865.

Lieutenant Willingham was married to Miss Sarah Willingham (a cousin) just before the close of the great struggle , and afterwards settled down on a farm close to his childhood home. A few years later, his wife having died, leaving two children, he moved to Water Valley, Ky., in the same county, and went to merchandising, in which he continued for many years during which he married Miss Maggie Roach, and to them were given seven children. This wife died some thirty years ago. Eight of his children survive him.

He loved to recount his thrilling experiences in the sixties and had been an enthusiastic reader of the Veteran since the first; he seldom missed a reunion of his comrades. At the age of fifty-five he professed faith in Jesus Christ and tenaciously clung to the old John Wesley paths until death.

In sadness is this humble tribute paid to his memory, trusting all is well with his soul.

[One who loved him-M.H.W.]