Willie B. Safford, Jr., also affectionately known as "Saff" and "Sonny", was born August 8, 1942 to Willie B. Safford, Sr. and Mary Etta West in Duck Hill, Mississippi.  He departed this life on February 1, 2019 in Memphis, TN.  Willie obeyed the Gospel of Christ and was baptized at an early age.  He was a longtime member of the Lincoln Garden Church of Christ, serving many years under the ministry of Bro. James A. Hadley.  As a young teenager, Willie made sacrifices, terminating his high school education early to start working in order to help his family.  Willie was a Master Carpenter and worked 29 years at Roy Collins Construction located in Cleveland, MS.  Willie was also an independent contractor and always found time to teach others his craft.  One of his favorite sayings was, "I may not be the best, but I am one of the best!" And that he was!  Although he was fashionable, he was not too proud to wear what he perceived as the uniform for his craft, his blue overalls.

Willie was a big Steelers fan, but he was an even bigger fan of God.  He loved studying the Word of God and striving to be the man that God wanted him to be.  He spent time teaching others about Christ, preaching from the pulpit whenever called upon; and always supporting the works of Churches of Christ, particularly Lincoln Garden Church of Christ in Cleveland, Mississippi and the Grovetown Church of Christ in Grovetown, Georgia where he served as a Charter Member until his death.  He was truly a soldier for God until his last breath and was noted for his high level carpentry, his spiritual inspiration and wisdom that he shared with all that he came in contact with.

Willie cherished his spiritual and biological families and would do anything he could for them.  And all that he could not do, he knew somebody who could!  There was a bright side to everything.  The impression that he left on this world will forever dwell in the hearts of those who knew him.