Obituary for William Perry Lackey
There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
William Perry Lackey was born April 5, 1953 in Iredell County to the late William “Billy” and Peggy Lackey. He departed this life Monday, April 6, 2020, following an extended illness.
Mr. Lackey was a graduate of Winston-Salem State University. He was a retired educator with Iredell-Statesville Schools. His wife of 48 years, Linda Caldwell Lackey, survives.
Perry, as he was more commonly known, enjoyed traveling, especially for family vacations, family reunions and going on cruises. Prior to his illness, he was an active member of First Greater Living Missionary Baptist Church where he served in various capacities through the years as a deacon, trustee, Sunday School teacher and superintendent, and usher. He also sang in the male chorus. He was a member of the Alpha Pi Lambda chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. of Winston-Salem, NC and Mt. Carmel Masonic Lodge #37 of Statesville where he formerly served as Most Worshipful Master. He was also retired from the United States Army Reserves with 26 years of service. Perry had many hobbies, including public speaking and acting with Statesville Community Theater. He performed in many stage productions including “Driving Miss Daisy” and “A Raisin in the Sun” and was well-known for his rendition of the “I Have a Dream” speech. He also enjoyed photography, videography, and collecting ships.
In addition to his father, William “Billy” Lackey, he was also preceded in death by his maternal grandparents J.B. and Emily K. Brown, paternal grandparents, Marshall “Shorty” Rankins, Sr. and Inez Lackey Lyons, special aunts Rose “Jimmy” Harris and Hessie Lackey; uncles James “Jimmy” Brown and Rayfield Brown, aunts Corella B. (Milton) Evans, Martha Flowers, and Frances Keaton Williams, and sister, Anita Lackey (Ronney) Moten.
Along with his wife, Linda, he leaves to cherish the memory of his life, two daughters, Tanya Lackey, of Statesville and Alesha Lackey, of Charlotte; two grandchildren, Jaida Brown of Statesville and Chancellor Morrison of Charlotte; mother, Peggy B. Lackey of Charlotte, paternal grandmother Katherine Rankins, of Statesville; uncles, Joe Baker (Cassandra) Brown of Stone Mountain, GA, Milton Evans of Clifton Park, NY, Marshall (Alvis) Rankins, Jr., of Troutman, NC, and Kevin Rankin, of Statesville; aunts Linda Carr, Brenda “Kay” Rankins, Gwendolyn Rankins, Paulette (Clarence) Tucker, and Annette Boone, all of Statesville; brothers, Derek “Derky” (Shirley) Lackey of Augusta, GA, Sidney (Renric) Lackey and Ryan Jones, both of Charlotte, and Silas (Lavida) Harris, of Statesville; sisters Saleema Adele Shakir of Charlotte, Pamela (Anthony) Foust of Knightdale, NC, Saundra Rivers and Deborah Bellamy, of Statesville and Denise Rice of Mooresville, NC; brothers-in-law, Ronney Moten, Sr. of Charlotte, Ronnie Caldwell, Roy Green, Cedric Corry, and Billy Stevenson; and sisters-in-law Beatrice Caldwell, Connie Simmons, and Rosemary (Robert) Dye, all of Statesville; special cousins Ira Lackey of Princeton, New Jersey, Alvis Rankins of Troutman, NC, Sherry Lackey, Barbara Dobbins and Sheila Wasson, all of Statesville; a special niece, Makissy Caldwell; and grand-dogs, Blue and Kiwi as well as a host of cousins, nephews, nieces, and friends.
Perry was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. Perry will be greatly missed by all.
“...We've got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn't matter with me now, because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind.
Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know... that we, as a people, will get to the promised land!
I'm not worried about anything. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord!
From “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Lovingly submitted,
The Family
Celebration of Life Services will be conducted Friday, April 10, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. at First Greater Living Missionary Baptist Church with Reverend Dr. John M. McDonald, Jr., Pastor, Officiating and Pastor Emeritus, Dr. John D. McDonald, Sr., eulogizing. Burial will follow in the Iredell Memorial Park.
There will be NO PUBLIC VISITATION, however their is public viewing. Unfortunately, with the COVID-19 Virus we, at Rutledge and Bigham Funeral Home, along with other funeral homes across the country, have been issued a mandate to limit the number of family and/or friends at funeral services. YOU CAN ONLY ENTER THE FUNERAL WITH A FUNERAL PASS WHICH WILL BE GIVEN TO THE FAMILY.
William Perry Lackey was born April 5, 1953 in Iredell County to the late William “Billy” and Peggy Lackey. He departed this life Monday, April 6, 2020, following an extended illness.
Mr. Lackey was a graduate of Winston-Salem State University. He was a retired educator with Iredell-Statesville Schools. His wife of 48 years, Linda Caldwell Lackey, survives.
Perry, as he was more commonly known, enjoyed traveling, especially for family vacations, family reunions and going on cruises. Prior to his illness, he was an active member of First Greater Living Missionary Baptist Church where he served in various capacities through the years as a deacon, trustee, Sunday School teacher and superintendent, and usher. He also sang in the male chorus. He was a member of the Alpha Pi Lambda chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. of Winston-Salem, NC and Mt. Carmel Masonic Lodge #37 of Statesville where he formerly served as Most Worshipful Master. He was also retired from the United States Army Reserves with 26 years of service. Perry had many hobbies, including public speaking and acting with Statesville Community Theater. He performed in many stage productions including “Driving Miss Daisy” and “A Raisin in the Sun” and was well-known for his rendition of the “I Have a Dream” speech. He also enjoyed photography, videography, and collecting ships.
In addition to his father, William “Billy” Lackey, he was also preceded in death by his maternal grandparents J.B. and Emily K. Brown, paternal grandparents, Marshall “Shorty” Rankins, Sr. and Inez Lackey Lyons, special aunts Rose “Jimmy” Harris and Hessie Lackey; uncles James “Jimmy” Brown and Rayfield Brown, aunts Corella B. (Milton) Evans, Martha Flowers, and Frances Keaton Williams, and sister, Anita Lackey (Ronney) Moten.
Along with his wife, Linda, he leaves to cherish the memory of his life, two daughters, Tanya Lackey, of Statesville and Alesha Lackey, of Charlotte; two grandchildren, Jaida Brown of Statesville and Chancellor Morrison of Charlotte; mother, Peggy B. Lackey of Charlotte, paternal grandmother Katherine Rankins, of Statesville; uncles, Joe Baker (Cassandra) Brown of Stone Mountain, GA, Milton Evans of Clifton Park, NY, Marshall (Alvis) Rankins, Jr., of Troutman, NC, and Kevin Rankin, of Statesville; aunts Linda Carr, Brenda “Kay” Rankins, Gwendolyn Rankins, Paulette (Clarence) Tucker, and Annette Boone, all of Statesville; brothers, Derek “Derky” (Shirley) Lackey of Augusta, GA, Sidney (Renric) Lackey and Ryan Jones, both of Charlotte, and Silas (Lavida) Harris, of Statesville; sisters Saleema Adele Shakir of Charlotte, Pamela (Anthony) Foust of Knightdale, NC, Saundra Rivers and Deborah Bellamy, of Statesville and Denise Rice of Mooresville, NC; brothers-in-law, Ronney Moten, Sr. of Charlotte, Ronnie Caldwell, Roy Green, Cedric Corry, and Billy Stevenson; and sisters-in-law Beatrice Caldwell, Connie Simmons, and Rosemary (Robert) Dye, all of Statesville; special cousins Ira Lackey of Princeton, New Jersey, Alvis Rankins of Troutman, NC, Sherry Lackey, Barbara Dobbins and Sheila Wasson, all of Statesville; a special niece, Makissy Caldwell; and grand-dogs, Blue and Kiwi as well as a host of cousins, nephews, nieces, and friends.
Perry was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. Perry will be greatly missed by all.
“...We've got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn't matter with me now, because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind.
Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know... that we, as a people, will get to the promised land!
I'm not worried about anything. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord!
From “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Lovingly submitted,
The Family
Celebration of Life Services will be conducted Friday, April 10, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. at First Greater Living Missionary Baptist Church with Reverend Dr. John M. McDonald, Jr., Pastor, Officiating and Pastor Emeritus, Dr. John D. McDonald, Sr., eulogizing. Burial will follow in the Iredell Memorial Park.
There will be NO PUBLIC VISITATION, however their is public viewing. Unfortunately, with the COVID-19 Virus we, at Rutledge and Bigham Funeral Home, along with other funeral homes across the country, have been issued a mandate to limit the number of family and/or friends at funeral services. YOU CAN ONLY ENTER THE FUNERAL WITH A FUNERAL PASS WHICH WILL BE GIVEN TO THE FAMILY.