William Wren, Sr.

William Henry Wren, Sr.

Wrens, GA  – William Henry Wren, Sr., 88, loving husband of 62 yrs to Martha Ellen Thigpen Wren, entered into rest Sunday morning, February 3, 2013 at Jefferson Hospital.  Funeral services will be held at 2:30PM Thursday, February 7, 2013 in the James Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. J. Scott McKinney and Dr. Stan Littleton officiating. Interment will follow in the Wrens Memorial Cemetery.

One of 13 children born to the late Lilla McDonald Wren and the late Alza Jackson Wren, William was a lifelong resident of Wrens and a faithful member of Wrens Baptist Church. He was a US Marine Corps Veteran of WWII, where he served with valor in the battles of Saipan, Tinian and Iwo Jima, witnessing the raising of the flag on Mount Suribachi. He later served his country in the Korean Conflict. Mr. Wren was retired after a long civil service career at Ft Gordon, and was an active member of American Legion Post 229 until his health declined in recent years. He was a great family man, always making time for his children--playing ball, attending practices and games—and his grandchildren. Mr. Wren also loved his church and community, supporting Howard Manor and other local charities. This quiet, unassuming, Godly patriot will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Mr. Wren is also preceded in death by his 12 siblings, Floyd Monroe Wren, Lollie Annie Laura Wren Purvis, Robert Lewis Wren, Cloyce Edward Wren, Josephine Wren, Olin Chesley “Foots” Wren, Paul Mundy Wren, John Thomas Wren, James Watson Wren, Jackson Rhodes Wren and Cecil Pilcher Wren; and his daughter-in-law, Cindy Mobley Wren. Other survivors include his children, William Henry Wren, Jr. (Rosemary) of Wrens, Marilyn Wren Murphy (John Ridgeway III) of Louisville and Donald Michael Wren of Wrens; 6 grandchildren, Will Daniel Wren (Ashley) of Meridian MS, Rob Henry Wren (Dana) of Augusta, Drew Jacob Wren (Emily) of Athens, John David Hadden (Corinne) of Atlanta, John Ridgeway Murphy IV of Ft. Eustis VA, and Henry Branan Murphy of Durham NC; and 2 great grandchildren, Harrison Bo Wren and Olivia Bay Wren, both of Meridian MS; 2 sisters-in-law, Betty Wilbanks Wren Johnson (Lawrence) and Inez Leopard Wren; and 13 nieces and nephews, John Weldon Purvis, Jr. (Sue), Vivian Louise Wren, Cloyce Edward "Bo" Wren (Maxine), George W. Wren (Janice), Helen Louise Wren Channell, Janice Kay Wren Hall, Faye Wren Brown (Mike), Andrew Reese Purvis (Diane), Lollie Wren Junker, John Thomas Wren, Jr. (Cindy), Dorothy Louise Wren Shopenn, Marvin Mundy Wren and Ann Wren Gray.  Pallbearers will be Will Daniel Wren, Rob Henry Wren, Drew Jacob Wren, John David Hadden, John Ridgeway Murphy IV, Henry Branan Murphy, Cloyce Edward “Bo” Wren, Jr., George W. Wren and John Thomas Wren, Jr. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be the Walter Jacobson Sunday School Class and American Legion Post 229.

Memorial contributions may be made to Wrens Baptist Church, PO Box 217, Wrens GA  30833 or to The John Franklin Wren Chapter--Howard Manor Fund, c/o Beth Stone Usry, 207 East Quaker Road, Wrens GA  30833.

The family wishes to express their heartfelt gratitude to the staff of Unihealth Post-Acute Care-Old Capitol for the wonderful support and loving care given to Mr. Wren. The family is also grateful to the physicians, nurses and staff of Jefferson Hospital for their exemplary medical care.
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God Of Our Fathers

God of our fathers, whose almighty hand
Leads forth in beauty all the starry band
Of shining worlds in splendor through the skies,
Our grateful songs before Thy throne arise.

Thy love divine hath led us in the past,
In this free land by Thee our lot is cast;
Be Thou our Ruler, Guardian, Guide and Stay,
Thy Word our law, Thy paths our chosen way.

From war’s alarms, from deadly pestilence,
Be Thy strong arm our ever sure defense;
Thy true religion in our hearts increase,
Thy bounteous goodness nourish us in  peace.

Refresh Thy people on their toilsome way,
Lead us from night to never-ending day;
Fill all our lives with love and grace divine,
And glory, laud, and praise be ever Thine

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