William, as he was known by his family, leaves behind a life that was intelligent, accomplished, generous, and filled with fun and love. He was born October 11, 1967. Although William attended and supported churches in the Madison area, he remained a member of the church he grew up in and loved, Good Hope Baptist Church in the Nanih Waiya community of Louisville, Mississippi.
William was never one to do things halfway. A 1985 graduate of Nanih Waiya High School, he was salutatorian of his class. A proud graduate of Mississippi State University, he was recognized multiple times as a President’s Scholar. He was elected president of the School of Accountancy student body for 1989–1990 based on his leadership and academic standing. In that role, he represented more than 700 students and 30 faculty members. He also served as president of the Inter-School Council, assisting the entire MSU student body with student affairs and special events. He received his bachelor’s degree in accounting in 1989 and his master’s degree in business administration in 1990.
William went on to earn numerous professional certifications, including Certified Public Accountant, Certified Management Accountant, and Realtor. He worked in accounting and Mississippi business-startup capacities for various state departments in Jackson. He also taught online classes for several universities and spent many years as an instructor of business at Belhaven University in Jackson, teaching both in the classroom and online. He also taught classes at Hinds Community College. In 2009, he was honored as one of the Mississippi Business Journal’s Top 40 Under 40, recognizing professional excellence and community contribution within the state. From 2018 until 2024, he worked as a Realtor in the Flowood and Madison areas.
William was a collector of antique furniture, rare and beautiful paintings, and other unique treasures. He developed a deep appreciation for things with history, character, and a story of their own. His lifelong passion for antiques began at a young age, and he had a remarkable eye for finding beauty and value in things others might have overlooked. He often traveled to New Orleans and Atlanta in search of just the right piece. His most precious treasures were those passed down through his family.
Long before college, careers, business ventures, and a house full of treasures, William’s story began on the family farm in Nanih Waiya that he loved dearly. Growing up there shaped much of who he became: hardworking, resourceful, independent, practical when necessary, and always willing to tackle a project. Farm life taught him that work needs doing and that very little gets accomplished by simply standing around talking about it. William carried that lesson with him throughout his life.
William also had an extraordinary gift for making life feel bigger, brighter, and more festive. Holiday decorating was never simply decorating; it was a production. A holiday was not something to quietly observe; it was something to celebrate, with enough decorations to make certain no one could possibly miss the occasion.
His generosity extended far beyond the holidays. William was the kind of neighbor who did not simply live beside people; he folded them into his life. Neighbors became friends, and friends often became family. If someone needed help, William was there. He was “Uncle Willie” to the children in the neighborhood and to the children of his friends.
His family will miss his love, his wit, his intelligence, his generosity, his stories, his decorating, his grand celebrations, and, most of all, the comfort of simply knowing he was there.
William is survived by his mother, Shirley Ann Kemp Moody; his sisters, Regina Moody and Danette Moody Barrier (Van) of Starkville, Mississippi; and his nieces and nephew, whom he considered his own: Lauren Tehan (Lee) of Brandon, Mississippi; Danielle Atchley (Lance) of Starkville, Mississippi; and Tatum Barrier (Leanne) of Brandon, Mississippi. He loved their children with all his heart: Corbin Tehan, Max Tehan, Mia Atchley, Lucy Atchley, and Hazel Barrier.
He was preceded in death by his father, William “Billy” Tatum Moody; his paternal grandparents, Tatum and Lillian Moody; and his maternal grandparents, J.W. and Ludie Kemp, all of Louisville, Mississippi.
