Read MSG Willie Cheatham, USA, Ret.'s Obituary & Leave Condolences

In memory of

MSG Willie Cheatham, USA, Ret.

Fayetteville, NC

1936 - June 9, 2022

1936 - Jun 9, 2022

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Willie Cheatham was born in Hazelhurst, Georgia in 1936, to Berry Cheatham, Sr. and Fleeta Ketterer-Cheatham. He grew up in the Tampa Bay, Florida area.

In 1954, Willie enlisted in the Army as an Infantryman. He retired in 1975, having completed more than 21 years of honorable service and achieving the rank of E-8, Master Sergeant in the Special Forces. His highest achieved award was the Bronze Star for heroic achievement in a combat zone during the Vietnam War. He was also awarded a Purple Heart for being wounded in action.

After his retirement he focused full time on raising his family and supporting his community, serving as a coach for Fort Bragg’s youth baseball program and participating in the Neighborhood Watch program. Willie could fix just about any kind of vehicle and often had two or three projects underway in the back yard. He was a faithful sports fan and occasional referee heckler at his sons’ ball games and wrestling matches. He was an avid fisherman and loved watching a good boxing match on TV, but most of all he loved being dad to his children, grandpa to his grandchildren, and great grandpa to his great grandchildren.

Willie Cheatham died on June 9, 2022.

He was preceded in death by his parents Berry Cheatham, Sr. and Fleeta Ketterer-Cheatham; 3 brothers - Berry, James and Charles; 2 sisters – Mary and Georgia Mae; and his daughter Vickey.

Willie leaves to cherish fond and loving memories his wife of 62 years, Georgianna Cheatham of Fayetteville, North Carolina; four children: Darrell Cheatham of Fayetteville, North Carolina, Lise Caldwell (Kenny) Hall of Colonial Heights, Virginia, Ira (Krista) Cheatham of Laurel Maryland, and Anthony (Shanna) Cheatham of Farmer City, Illinois; nine grandchildren: Briona (Charles), Darrell Lee, Mitravia, Joshua, Sofia, Carmen, Victoria, Elisha, and Solomon; and eight great grandchildren: Caleb, Isabelle, Jeremiah, Aliana, Charles IV, Hannah, Jonah, Ethan, and Gabriel