Mr. Willie Lee Key, Sr.

When we win, we celebrate. We shout, high five, fist pump, and cheer because we know that not only did we fight the good fight, WE WON. Today will be no different. Willie Key, Sr. won and today we are going to celebrate his life as the CHAMPION that he was. So what are we crying for? If you were in the family, you knew him as Paw-Paw. If you were a close, dear friend, you probably called him Bud. But if you were fortunate enough to just cross his path, even if but for a brief moment, you would call him AMAZING because he was a mountain of a man. Talented, comical, full of wisdom, loaded up of life, and the embodiment of the REAL MAN. Willie Lee Key, Sr. didn't just live his life, HE LIVED LIFE TO THE FULLEST. An accomplished athlete in both basketball and football, Bud graduated from Harris High School in 1956. Shortly after, he was drafted by the US Army where he remained until he was honorably discharged in 1958 and went on to attend Meridian Junior college. Being a man of incomparable work ethic and a trendsetter, he became the first African-American salesman and supervisor at Borden Milk Company and then First African American Supervisor for the surrounding cities of Laurel, Louisville, Noxapater, and Philadelphia. So again I'm going to ask ... what are we crying for? The three most important decisions in your life you will ever make are accepting the Lord, who you marry, and where you attend church and if there were three things Willie Key was an expert on it was God, Family, and Church. He could write a bestselling book on it. As a member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church for over 50 years, he served as Choir president, Sunday School Superintendent, Sunday School teacher of Adult Class, and Church Financial officer. In 1968, he was ordained as a deacon and served as Chairman of Deacon Board for over three decades. His family life is truly the food of champions, but one food was so sweet, so delectable that it left even Bud helpless to defend against it. That was his Sweetie Pie, the apple of his eye, Pauline Cole. Beautiful, graceful, poised, intelligent, and virtuous ... One look at her back in 1958 and "01' Willie Lee" knew he had to have her because she was on to something major and if he wanted to play in the big league he NEEDED her on his team. He knew that ifhe could muster up all of his charm and man-appeal for this young, classy lady he could re-write history for his family's next ten generations. So he did ... and she fell for it. On August 13, 1959 they were married and 58 years later one of the greatest love stories ever told on this side of heaven was imagined. So we ask you again, why are we still crying? That's Dad, That's Bud, That's Paw-Paw. So, with a legacy of living like that why would you want to cry? It is a CELEBRATION! He won and with no regrets. Even when he became a double amputee he would often remind everyone, "My legs may be gone, but I'm still running for Jesus." He was such an impressionable man that after you met him you just wanted to be like him. He lived to see three generations of his family follow in his footsteps in some kind of way. Whether it was in church ministry, sports, the military, education, or singing, in some way or fashion his footprint was stamped into their lives. There is no question from anyone who knew him that his place in Heaven was GUARANTEED a long time ago. He was just enjoying the earthly ride until it was his time to go to his heavenly mansion. Willie Key, Sr. is survived by his beautiful, sweet thing Pauline Cole Key, and their three children, daughter, Eartha Mae Key and sons Willie Lee Key, Jr. and Thomas Romaro Key(Aisha), all of Meridian; One sister, Eartha Lee Wells (Newark, New Jersey); four grandsons, LaBaron Hedgemon (Michelle), Marcus Matthews (Paige), Thomas Romaro Key II, and Austin Luke Key; two great granddaughters, Alaysia Tionna Hedgemon and Alasyn BaLeigh Hedgemon and three great grandsons Marcus D. Matthews, Peyton Matthews and LaBaron Hedgemon II; two very close first cousins Juanita Clay (Birmingham, AL) and Frank Henderson Jr. (San Jose, CA); one sister in law, Geraldine Cole-Dubose and one brother in law, Rev James L. Cole.

Mr. Willie Lee Key, Sr.

September 20, 1937 - August 8, 2017