William Alvin Fleetwood known as ‘Bill’ was born June 14, 1929 in Bauxite, Arkansas, and went to be with Jesus on Janurary 1, 2024. His parents were John Moore Fleetwood & Myrtle Pearl May Fleetwood. Bill’s grandmother, Mattie May was spiritually influential in raising him until the age of 8. Bill left Arkansas with his parents at age 8 and ended up in Houston, TX. It was at Jefferson Davis High School in Houston that Bill met the love of his life, Mary Adams. After two years of playing basketball at Baylor University, Bill married his sweetheart Mary Lillian Adams Fleetwood on August 26, 1950 where she joined him at Baylor University to finish his Bachelor of Business Administration degree and his four years of playing basketball for Baylor from 1948-1952. Their team was second in the nation in 1948 and fourth in the nation in 1950, both banners hang in the Ferrell Center Basketball Stadium. They also won the Southwest Conference Championship in 1950.

After college, Bill and Mary moved back to Houston and Pasadena, TX where they raised their family. Bill spent most of his career in education, using his business skills as a Business Administrator of schools, and ending his career as a Superintendent. Mary was a homemaker while raising their three daughters. Bill and Mary loved serving in their church. Bill was a faithful deacon and Co-Sunday School teacher with Mary for young adults. They loved sharing their contagious love for the Lord, and had a heart for sharing Jesus as our loving Savior.

After retirement, Bill and Mary moved to the country on 60 acres near Kirvin, TX where they raised cattle and a few horses. Bill learned a whole new life of tractor shredding, mending fences and working cows after his many years of city life. It was on this tract of land that Bill and Mary entertained their children and grandchildren with lots of good cooking, eating and fishing in their ponds. Bill also started a second career during retirement as the pastor of a small church where he and Mary loved sharing the love of Jesus.

Bill is preceded in death by his parents, John and Pearl; his wife, Mary; three sister-in-laws and three brother-in-laws, Jessie Faye & Jack Fields, Opal & Clinton Wideman and Adelia & Tom Sewell.

He is survived by his three daughters, Deitra O’Neill and husband, Steve of Humble, TX; Darlene Twitty and husband, Doug of Teague, TX; Cheri Jennings and husband Frank of Belton, TX; his grandchildren, Billy Riddell, Crista Payne, Audra Skinner, Stephen O’Neill, Shane O’Neill, Nathan Jennings, Bryan Twitty, Danielle O’Neill, Matt Jennings, Natalie Richardson, Brad Twitty and their spouses. Bill has also been blessed with 24 great grandchildren and 6 great-great grandchildren.

The family expresses much love and gratitude to those at Stoney Brook of Hewitt who loved and cared for Bill in the last 10 years of his life. In his early years at Stoney Brook, Bill enjoyed serving as Stoney Brook’s preacher on Sundays. The rest of the time, he enjoyed giving the staff and residents a jokingly hard time. He developed the fun name of ‘Trouble’, as many would say with a smile… “Here comes Trouble!” He made many friends who were like a second family to him at Stoney Brook.
In lieu of flowers, consider sending a memorial to the Alzheimer’s Association at act.alz.org
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