William James (“Bill”) Fisher, Jr of Covington passed away January 17, 2016. Bill was born April 9, 1935, in Brunswick Georgia to the late William James, Sr. and Bertha Manning Fisher. Bill grew up in historic Darien, Ga. where he graduated from high school and excelled in both academics and athletics. Bill graduated Georgia Tech in 1956 with a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering.
Upon graduation, Bill married Elaine Braselton, to whom he remained devoted during their subsequent 59 years of marriage. He then entered the United States Air Force as a Second Lieutenant and served as a navigator on a DC124 performing intelligence-related duties in Europe and elsewhere during the height of the Cold War. Bill served his country for four years achieving the rank of Captain before deciding to enter the business world in 1960 and put his talents as a chemical engineer to good use. Bill was quickly hired by the international chemical company Hercules, Inc. where he would work for the next 35 years at various plants in the United States including Brunswick, Ga., Covington, Va., and Covington, Ga. One of his more unique assignments, however, was overseeing the construction and operations of a polypropylene film plant in the interior of Brazil in the late 70s and early 80’s. Bill retired from Hercules, Inc. in 1995 as Director of Manufacturing after having had responsibilities for many manufacturing operations in the company, both domestic and abroad.
Bill was very active in each of the communities where he worked during his career. He was a long time member of the First United Methodist Church of Covington, a Rotarian, a member of Covington Kiwanis Club, a former Chair of the Board of Directors of the Covington/Newton County Chamber of Commerce, a former Chairman of the Board of the First National Bank of Newton County, and a former Chairman of the Covington Zoning and Planning Commission. A chemistry lab at Perimeter College was named in his honor for his role in bringing the college to Newton County.
Bill was a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend. Bill is survived by his wife, Elaine Fisher and their children; Cheryl Fisher Custer and her husband Bill of Atlanta, William J. (“Little Bill”) Fisher, III, and his wife Twila of Lawrenceville. He is also survived by his grandchildren; Lauren, Victoria, Darien, Sydney and William J. Fisher, IV, and by his sister-in-law and brother-in-law; Wanda and Gerald Singletary of Covington. Numerous other family and close friends also survive him.
Services for Bill will be held at 1 o’clock Saturday, January 23, 2016 at the Covington First United Methodist Church with the Reverend Doctor Douglas Gilreath officiating. The family will receive friends immediately following the service on Saturday. A graveside service will be held at 11am on Sunday, January 24, 2016 at St. Andrews Cemetery in his home town of Darien. J.C. Harwell and Son Funeral Home, 2157 East Street, SE, Covington, GA 30014 is in charge of the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that friends consider a gift in Bill’s name to the Winship Cancer Center at Emory University at winshipcancer.emory.edu. A guest book may be signed on-line www.harwellfuneralhome.com.
