Graveside service for Willie L. Harper, Jr., 69, of Opelika, AL, will be at 12:00 noon, Sunday, February 21, 2021, at Bethel No. 2 Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery, 1785 Lee Road 29, Opelika, AL 36804, Reverend Curtis L. Carlisle will officiate.

Reverend Harper, who passed away Sunday, February 14, 2021 at the Bethany House in Auburn, Alabama, was born May 29, 1951 in Lee County, Alabama.

Public viewing for Reverend Harper will be Saturday, February 20, 2021, from 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

He leaves to cherish his memory: his wife of 50 years, Annie Rebecca Harper of Opelika, AL; three sons, Tony A. Harper, Anthony D. Gardner and Ramone L. Gardner all of Opelika, AL; two daughters, Deniese (Keith) Hunter and Kimberly Harper both of Opelika, AL; four sisters, Annie L. Torbert, Annie (Charlie) Scott, Alice (Eugene) Jones and Fannie Louise (Jeffery) Hunter all of Opelika, AL; four sisters-in-law, Letha Harper, Alice (Elmer) Hunter, Julia Whatley all of Opelika, AL and Josephine Anderson of Indianapolis, IN; six brothers-in-law, James Johnson, Charlie G. Whatley, Curtis L. Whatley, Melvin Whatley all of Opelika, AL, Willie G. (Lillie) Whatley of Tuskegee, AL and William H. Whatley of Indianapolis, IN; special cousin, Ezellous (Nutree) Frazier of Duluth, GA; ten grandchildren who lost their “Paw Paw”; a host of great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

CDC recommends that people wear cloth face coverings in public settings when around people outside of their household, especially when other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.