Mr. Willie James McKensey of 302 West 22nd Avenue, Cordele, Georgia passed away Monday, December 23, 2024, at the Emory St. Joseph Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia.

The funeral service will be held Friday, January 3, 2025 at 12:00 Noon, in the chapel of the J. W. Williams Funeral Home in Cordele, Georgia.  The burial will follow at the Bethel Cemetery in Cordele, Georgia.

Everyone entering the funeral home for visitations or services must wear a mask and practice social distancing.  A mask must be worn throughout the stay.  You must supply your mask.

Willie James McKensey was born on October 1, 1971, at the Dooly Medical Center in Vienna, Georgia. He was welcomed into the world by his parents, Lawyer Harris, Jr. and Emma Jean McKensey. Affectionately known to family and friends as "Chill Will" or "Leroy", his life was a testament to love, family, and community, and his presence will be dearly missed by all who knew him.

Chill Will's formative years were spent in the vibrant communities of Crisp County, where he received his education in the public school system. He was a proud 1990 graduate of Crisp County High School in Cordele, Georgia.

At an early age he began attending service at  the Macedonia Baptist Church in the Drayton Community of Vienna, Georgia. As an adult he attended various other churches in the Crisp County area.

A true sports enthusiast, Chill Will was a die-hard Dallas Cowboys fan and also cheered passionately for the Georgia Bulldogs. His love for sports was matched by his enjoyment of outdoor activities, such as fishing and gardening, which provided him with relaxation and joy.

Family was at the heart of his life. He shared his life with marriage with his wife, the former Falania Nechole Rogers, and together they lived until Monday, December 23, 2024, when he was set free from the cares of this life.

He leaves cherished memories to his wife, Falania Rogers McKensey of Cordele, Georgia; his children, A'aronyce McKensey (Octarion Jackson), Amarion McKensey, and Kindel McKensey, all of Cordele, Georgia;  his grandchildren, Avalynn Jackson and Autum Jackson; his mother, Emma Jean McKensey (Terry White) of Cordele, Georgia; his sisters, Norma (Thad) Daniels of Cordele, Georgia, Barbara (Gary) Monroe of Albany, Georgia, Charry   McKenzie of Warner Robins, Georgia, Shaonda Harris Jackson and Regina Harris (James) Dean both of Cordele, Georgia, and LaShonda Walker of Albany, Georgia; his brothers, Anthony (Yolanda Faye) McKenzie and Terry McKenzie both of Cordele, Georgia; his parents-in-law, Jessie (Helen) Rogers of Cordele, Georgia; his sister-in-law, Stacy Rogers of Thomasville, Georgia; his brother-in-law, Jeffery Rogers (Mary Gray) of Cordele, Georgia; his aunts and uncles, Ernestine (Howard) Newsome, A. W. (Barbara) Armstrong, Charlie C. McKenzie, Jessie James McKenzie, Willie McKenzie, Betty Nell Wallace Smith, James Wallace, Timothy Wallace, Charlie Rogers, Leroy Rogers, Glory Mapp, Mary Nell (Jerome) Adams, Donald Rogers, Curtis Rogers, Louis Cannady, Tommy Cannady, and Yvonne Cannady; his nieces and nephews, Takerra, Jakerria, Thad Jr., Aquilla, Makiyah, Taliyah, Daquan, Nykeria, Carlton, Latravious, Jaliyah, Jailyn, Serriyah, Ajah, Auyanna,m Kotisha, Keonie, Keyoka, AShauna, Tobias, Jeffery,   Eric, Anthony, Vantavious, Taylor, Tyler, Shevovia, Reginald, and Leondrya; a host of cousins, other relatives and many sorrowing friends, to include his close friend, Kelvin Ross of Atlanta, Georgia and the CCRD Staff.

He is preceded in death by his father, Lawyer; his grandparents, Jettie Bell McKensey, Charlie McKensey, Mary Wallace Harris and Lawyer Harris, Sr., and his aunt, Rosa Lee McKenzie.