Rainsville Community Mourns Willmon

Rainsville Community Mourns Willmon

By Marla JonesReporter • marla@southerntorch.com

RAINSVILLE, Ala. — Rainsville lost a longtime banker and friend on Monday, November 26. Anthony Willmon, former President of the First Bank of the South, passed away leaving behind a legacy in the City of Rainsville.

Funeral services for Mr. Willmon were held on Thursday, November 29 at 6pm at Rainsville Holiness Church with Bro. Rickey Wooten officiating. A private burial service followed in Mountain View Memory Gardens.

In a statement, First State Bank President & CEO David Henderson said:

“I was saddened this morning to hear of the passing of my dear friend and fellow banker, Anthony Willmon. I was blessed to have had not only the opportunity to work with Anthony for many years but to also have him as a friend for over 40 years. Anthony will be greatly missed not only by his family but also by his co-workers, and his many customers that became friends and the community that he served. On behalf of the Directors, Officers, and Employees of First State Bank our thoughts and prayers go out to the Willmon family.”

First State Bank Vice President Laura Hulgan said in a statement:

“There are few people that see value in you and will help you to see it in yourself; that encourage you to the point of absolute frustration; that are willing to invest their most valuable resources (time, energy and knowledge) into you. These are the people who become a part of you and who’s legacy you will help to carry on someday. These are people who are family with or without a genetic connection. Anthony Willmon was one of these people to me. I could not be the banker or person I am today without him having been such a huge part of my life. I am blessed and thankful to have had him as my mentor and extended family, but most importantly my friend. A million memories have passed in the blink of an eye. He was loved and will be greatly missed by myself and all of the other former First Bank of the South employees, directors and customers.”

Willmon is survived by his wife, Sherry; three sons: Bradley, and wife Heather; Aaron, and wife Mandy; and Keith, and wife Shela; two daughters: LaShea Stopyak and husband Ron; and Jodi Buttram and husband Jarrod; parents Charles and Martha Willmon; parents-in-law Billy and Ruby Turner; three brothers: Benji and wife Terry; Nicky and wife Karen; and Jeff and wife Cindy. He also leaves behind fifteen grandchildren: Kennedy, Caleb, Savannah, Cecelia, Sam, Shelby, Miles, Britney, Lance, Jessica, Ambriel, Alex, Colby, Lucas and Tyler; and five great-grandchildren: Tre’, Jalyn, Khidon, Bosten and Mila.

Mr. Willmon loved his church and loved to sing. He loved his grandchildren more than himself and often went above and beyond for them more than their parents did. He came to know God and and the free gift of salvation at an old time revival held in Scottsboro in a little church on Appletree Street.

The citizens of Rainsville will certainly miss Mr. Willmon as will all who came to know him.