William Drake "Billy" Stanfill, Sr.

William Drake Stanfill, Sr., 90, life-long resident of Columbia, died Wednesday, March 27, 2019 at NHC Maury Regional Transitional Care. Funeral services will be conducted Monday at 2:00 P.M. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with John Vaughan and Judge Bobby Sands officiating. Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens with military honors provided by the Herbert Griffin American Legion Post 19. The family will visit with friends Sunday from 2:00 – 5:00 P.M. and Monday from 1:00 P.M. until service time at the funeral home. The family suggests memorials to Graymere Church of Christ, 1320 Trotwood Avenue, Columbia, TN 38401. Condolences may be extended online at www.oakesandnichols.com. Born November 24, 1928 in Maury County, he was the son of the late Henry H. Stanfill and the late Charlotte Shannon Stanfill. He was a 1947 graduate of Columbia Central High School, where he exceled in basketball and went on to attend one year at Columbia Military Academy to play basketball. Mr. Stanfill served in the United States Army during the Korean War from 1950-1952. In 1944, he started his career with Pigg & Parson as a sales associate and retired in 2003 as co-owner. He had been a member of the Columbia Elks Lodge since 1949 and served as Past Exalted Ruler, Past District Deputy, and took great pride in being the oldest living Past State President. Mr. Stanfill was a member of the American Legion Post 19 and Graymere Church of Christ, where he was one of the founding members and former Elder. He enjoyed spending time with his family at their place on the Tennessee River and was an avid University of Tennessee Athletics fan. Survivors include his wife of 62 years, whom he married June 23, 1956, Claire Savage Stanfill of Columbia; daughter and son-in-law, Delisa and Craig Showers of Fredericksburg, Virginia; son and daughter-in-law, William Drake and Rachael Stanfill. of Franklin; and grandchildren, Garrett Lee (Katharine) Showers of Richmond, Virginia; Blake Henry Showers of Fredericksburg, Virginia; Brock Savage Showers of Fredericksburg, Virginia; Sara Grayson Stanfill of Franklin; and William Drake Stanfill, III of Franklin. Active pallbearers will be the American Legion Post 19. Honorary pallbearers include Elders and Deacons of Graymere Church of Christ.