William Wesley Foy

Mr. William Wesley Foy, age 99, passed away Tuesday evening, August 6, at his home in Americus. Funeral services are planned for 5:00 PM Saturday, August 10, at Salem United Methodist Church. Rev. Bill Dupree, Rev. Lawrence Wiggins, and Rev. Larry Cochran will officiate. Interment will be private, with grandsons and great-grandsons serving as pallbearers. Members of Salem Senior Adult Sunday School Class and Gideons are asked to serve as honorary pallbearers. The family will receive friends Friday evening, August 9, between the hours of 6:00 & 8:00 PM at Hancock Funeral Home, 427 S. Lee St. Mr. Foy was born January 18, 1914 in Butler, GA to Marvin Russell and Sallie Mae Peed Foy. He was educated in Butler, GA and graduated from high school in Camilla, GA in 1931. He continued his education as a work study at Berry College in Rome, GA in the dairy milking cows by hand (10+ each am and pm) and received a vocational agricultural degree in 1935. From there, he attended University of GA to complete education courses for teaching certification. He bought a 1935 Chevy for $400 and traveled to Morgan, GA to begin his 1st official job in 1938. There he met Florrie Bailey, an elementary school teacher from Americus, GA, who later became his wife on June 11, 1940. They moved to Leslie, GA in 1943 where he taught vocational ag at Leslie High School and operated a large canning plant to enable citizens to can home grown vegetables for both personal use and to send to soldiers overseas. These critical skills prevented him from being drafted into WWII. The couple then moved to his wife’s family farm in the New Era Community and built their home on Sam Bradley Road where their 3 daughters were born. Wesley worked with Farm Craft in 1950, and he was appointed to Sumter Board of Education. He was elected Sumter County School Superintendent in 1953 and held that position for 12 years. He then moved into the city school system in which he served as principal in several schools including, Eastview, Sarah Cobb, and Reese Park until he eventually retired in 1975. During the time of his career, he watched his 3 daughters grow into beautiful young ladies and marry; Jane to Gene Smith, Carole to Al Hargrove, and Jenny to Larry Cochran. Following retirement, Wesley remained busy with farm life and enjoying his ever increasing family. What started as a loving couple eventually became a family of 46, including 8 grandchildren and spouses, 19 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren. He and Florrie were also very active members at Salem United Methodist and with ministry life as well, taking mission trips to India, Columbia, Haiti, and Arizona and volunteering at Magnolia Manor. He was a member and supporter of the local Gideon organization. For those wishing to do so, the family suggests memorial contributions to Salem United Methodist Church, 903 Upper River Rd Americus, GA 31709, the local chapter of Gideons International, online at www.gideons.org, or United Hospice, 708 16th Ave E Cordele, GA 31015. To sign our online guestbook and express your condolences to the Foy family, please visit www.hancockfuneralhomeinc.com Hancock Funeral Home, 427 S. Lee St., is in charge of arrangements.