William Kenneth Witherspoon, 76, departed this life on Thursday, April 19, 2012, at the Brooklyn Hospital Medical Center after an extended illness. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and employed for many years at Beth Israel Hospital in New York before retiring.
He was predeceased by his parents, Maso & Refula Witherspoon of Charlotte, North Carolina; a sister, Martha, and a brother, Carl.
Surviving are his son, Anthony Wilson of Bronx, NY; former wife, Ailean Rock; a sister, Dr. Betty W. Barber (husband Richard) of Somerset, NJ; brothers, Horace, James and Ronald of Charlotte; a special aunt, Lizzie Smalls of Reidsville, NC; three nieces, Dr. Victoria Barber-Spears (husband Yusuf) and great-nephew Bryce Skylar Spears of Oakland, CA; Sharon Barber of Somerset, NJ, and Tamika White (husband Kelley) of Greensboro, NC; two nephews, Richard Barber Jr. (wife Paula) of Durham, NC, and James Ellis Foster of Brooklyn, NY. A special friend, Louise Faison of Bronx, NY, and a host of family and friends in Charlotte, Reidsville, Statesville,Winston-Salem, Rock Hill and Washington, DC.
His homegoing service will be officiated by Rev. Mayfield Small Jr. and conducted at the Piro Funeral Home, 251 DeKalb Avenue, in Brooklyn, NY, on Saturday, April 28th at 1 p.m. Viewing will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The family will receive friends from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Burial will be in Charlotte on Tuesday, May 1, with arrangements being handled by the Alexander Funeral Home, 1424 Statesville Avenue . Viewing will be until 1 p.m., with the family receiving friends from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. at Alexander Funeral Home Chapel, followed by the burial. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that contributions in his name and honor be sent to the Southern Poverty Law Center, 400 Washington Avenue, Montgomery, Alabama 36104.
