William Harold Moats

Mr. William Harold Moats, age 74, of Sandersville, died Monday, June 27, 2016. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm, Wednesday, June 29th at First Baptist Church of Sandersville with burial in the Brownwood Cemetery. Reverend Lee Lacey will officiate.

Pallbearers will be Mike Durden, Derick Durden, Carey McCaskill, John Dean McCaskill, Steven Milley, Jimmy Milley, David Ray and Jason Carter. Members of the Sandersville Department as well as Washington County Fire Fighters will served as honorary pallbearers.

Mr. Moats was a Washington County native, the son of the late James Tildon “J.T.” Moats and the late Bernie Lee Alexander Moats. He spent his career working for the Railroad beginning with the Central of Georgia Railroad in Atlanta before moving to Ohio and Alabama prior to returning home to work for the Sandersville Railroad in which he retired in 2004 as the freight agent with over 40 plus years of service. William also had a 42 year career in public service as a Fireman with the Sandersville Fire Department. Through this career he rose to the rank of Lieutenant before becoming Assistant Chief in 1988, a position he held until his death. In 2002 he was honored by his peers as the Fire Fighter of the Year. William was a lover of the great outdoors and above all, he loved spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. Mr. Moats was predeceased by his sister, Jeanette Welch and brother in law Frank Welch.

Survivors include: his wife, Evelyn McCaskill Moats of Sandersville; daughters, Renee M. Shurling and her husband Barry of Tennille and Leah M. Wiley of Warthen; grandchildren, Jonathan Shurling and his wife Jessica of Adrian, Blake Shurling of Tennille, Cody Deal and Hunter Wiley both of Warthen; his sister, Jewell M. Milley and her husband Allan of Greenacres FL.,

The family will be at their residence on East First Avenue in Sandersville and they will receive friends on Tuesday from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the May and Smith Funeral Home in Sandersville.

Donations may be made to the First Baptist Church of Sandersville, 316 Mathis Circle or to the Christian Life Center, 310 East Church Street or to Brentwood School, P.O. Box 955, all in Sandersville, GA. 31082.