William Britt

Born in Fairmont, North Carolina on October 29, 1927

Departed on December 23, 2019 and resided in Nashville, Tennessee

Visitation: Harpeth Hills Funeral Home & Cremation CenterThursday January 2, 2020 4:00pm to 7:00pmFriday January 3, 2020 11:30am to 12:30pmFuneral Service: Harpeth Hills Funeral Home & Cremation CenterFriday January 3, 2020 12:30pmBurial: Middle Tennessee State Veterans CemeteryFriday January 3, 2020 2:00pm

William Coleman Britt, 92, was born in Fairmont, North Carolina. He was the son of Forrest and Louise Barnes Britt. He was preceded in death by his parents, siblings Jack, H.F., LaRue Hamm, Sarah Parker and Mildred Adams. He is survived by his wife Shirley Crowder Britt, brother Austin Britt, sister Joan Bunn, many nieces and nephews, brother and sisters-in-law Robert and Rhonda Ellis, Vivian Riddle, and Jane Britt, also many friends. Bill was an inspiration to all who knew him.
Upon the death of his father in 1935, he, his brother Austin along with his sisters LaRue and Sarah were accepted at the Methodist Orphanage in Raleigh, NC.
Bill graduated from the Methodist High School in 1947 where he lettered in baseball, football and basketball. Bill was noted as the greatest athlete to come out of the Methodist Orphanage. He received a full scholarship to Duke University where he was captain of the wrestling team and a member of the ATO fraternity
Following his graduation from Duke in 1951, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. During his career in the USMC, he saw combat action in the Korean and Vietnam wars. He was awarded the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism. He retired in 1980 with the rank of full Colonel after twenty-nine years of service to his country.
In 1957, he married Shirley Joan Crowder.
Bill spent his retirement years enjoying life in Nashville, riding a registered thoroughbred (Joe Reed) daily, mowing his lawn with a new John Deere, working out at his favorite gym and celebrating fun time with family and friends. Bill was a lifelong Christian.
Visitations will be at Harpeth Hills Funeral Home, 9090 Hwy. 100, Nashville, TN Thursday, January 2, 2020, 4:00 to 7:00pm and Friday, January 3, 11:30am to 12:30pm, with funeral services beginning at 12:30pm. Burial, with full military honors, to follow at Middle Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery on McCrory Ln. at 2pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Methodist Home for Children, 1041 Washington St., Raleigh, NC 27605-1259.