Prestige Memorial Funeral Home | Gadsden, AL

Obituary For Mr. Willie Owens "Duck" Rawls

Celebration of Life for Mr. Willie Owens " Duck" Rawls, age 78, will be held at 1p.m. on Saturday, January 20, 2018 at Mount Ephraim Baptist Church located at 1202 West Marietta Street Atlanta, GA 30318 with Dr. R. L. White Jr., Officiating. Interment will be held in Lincoln Cemetery, Atlanta, GA. Public viewing will be held from 1-7p.m. at the funeral home on Friday, January 19, 2018.

Willie Owens "Duck" Rawls was born November 4, 1939, in Elmore County, Alabama, to the late Julius and Minnie Lee Rawls. He was educated in the Gadsden City School System and was a graduate of Carver High School in Gadsden, Alabama.

He confessed Christ at an early age at Antioch Baptist Church in Gadsden, Alabama, and then later joined Mt. Ephraim Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia. After high school, he moved to Mobile, Alabama, where he became employed as a longshoreman with the U. S. Gulf Pipeline, traveling worldwide.

Later in life, he moved to Atlanta, Georgia, and became employed with Sly & Helmut Printing Company, where he was a labor organizer for many years. He then joined in matrimony with Loretta Parker in 1972. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend to all who graced his presence. He blessed our lives daily with his compassion, love, energy, and laughter. He enjoyed taking long walks, and watching NASCAR races, National Geographic, and sports channel. On Thursday, January 11, 2018 Willie departed his earthly life at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Home.

He was preceded in death by his maternal mother and father, four brothers and one daughter.

The memories of his wonderful and blessed life will forever be cherished by his loving wife Loretta Rawls; Sons, Willie Leshone Rawls and Dunkin (Shelia)Parker; Daughters, Freda Parker and Elaine Rawls of Los Angelos, California. Sister, Juanita Rawls; Brothers, Jessie (Margie) Rawls, Roy (Judy) Rawls; Sister-in-laws, Louvenia Martin, Eleveta Parker, Faye Parker; Brother-in-law, Willie James( Eleise) Parker of Atlanta, GA; A Special Grand-daughter, Erica " Nunk" Parker; He leaves a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and many dear friends.

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