Grissom-Clark Funeral Home | Atlanta, GA

Obituary For Willie Booker

Willie Booker, Jr., the third of eleven children, was born May 15, 1919 to the late Willie Booker, Sr. and Luvenia Jenkins Booker in Chula, Virginia. He was affectionately called "Dookie" by family and friends. It was with love that his grandchildren called him "Papa".

Willie moved to White Plains, New York as a teen where he worked at a nursery. He also worked as an auto mechanic at the garage of his uncle, Roosevelt "Bud" Jenkins.

Willie enlisted in the Army, October 19, 1943 and served in World War II. He drove a truck filled with gasoline and explosives to a tank division at the front lines in France. Sometimes he would reminisce about the inherent danger in what he did, but at the time it was just a fact of life. He received an honorable discharge on April 16, 1946.

On returning from the war, Willie met the love of his life, Venitia Lenora Watkins. His good friend Nanthaniel Morton, introduced him to Venitia, a relative of Nathaniel who would prove to be the inspiration of Willie's life. They fell in love and married on February 9, 1950. They were blessed to share nearly 58 years of love, life, three children, eight grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, several triumphs, and a few struggles.

After the war, Willie supported his family by holding several positions, including auto mechanic, construction worker and taxi driver. For many years, he drove for Central Taxi Cab Company and eventually owned and operated his own taxi until his retirement in 1993.

Willie enjoyed many hobbies including, hunting, watching baseball, and gardening. He enjoyed the camaraderie of his buddies, depending on them even after moving to Atlanta, and often ribbed his son when the Yankees went on a streak of consecutive World Series victories. Each year Willie would challenge himself to see if his thumb was greener than the previous year. He especially liked to grow tomatoes which his family raved over.

After a lengthy illness, January 25, 2008, he was called home. He was the third oldest of eleven brothers and sisters. He was predeceased by four brothers, Everett (Mac), Albert, Robert, and John; and three sisters, Sally, Martha, and Thelma,

He leaves to cherish his loving memory, wife, Venitia; three children, Luvenia Gorley, New Haven, Connecticut, Willie Everett Booker, Sone Mountain, Georgia, and Audrey Lenore and her husband, Fletcher Burnette, Raleigh, North Carolina; two brothers James and Joseph; one sister, Fannie; eight grandchildren, Won, Shinda, Max, Chris Yomi, Alex, Jocelyn, and Naeema; five great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

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