William Benjamin Woolard

Published 3:00 pm Tuesday, December 5, 2023

William Benjamin Woolard passed away December 4, 2023.  A funeral service will be held at First Christian Church on December 10, 2023 at 2:00PM.

William Benjamin Woolard was born in Washington, NC on April 20^th, 1927. He is the son of the late McCoy Woolard and Lizzie Cox Woolard.  He attended East Carolina University after serving in the United States Navy. Ben was a member of the first East Carolina University Jazz Band as first trumpet.  He was also a member of First Christian Church where he sang in the church choir for 80 plus years.

Ben worked in retail most of his adult life.  He worked for Suskin and Berry for a number of years, before buying into the corporation with his friend Curtis Toler.  They operated it until they sold the business years later.

He was married to the late Belva Paul Woolard for 37 years.  They had two children, Janet Woolard Prevatte and her husband Steve of Charlotte, NC and William McCoy Woolard and Julie of Washington, NC.

Ben is survived by his wife Bonita Mae Woolard, his children and step-children, Ronald F. Boyle, III and wife Nancy and Anna Marie Hazelrigg and her husband Jeff, of Texas. He was pre-deceased by his two sisters, Vivian Woolard Leggett and Zelma Woolard Elks.

Ben has five grandchildren whom he cherished, Jamin Prevatte, Erin Prevatte, Justin Woolard, Coy Woolard and Rhett Paul Woolard along with five step grandchildren, Kristin Hoffman, Nicholas Hazelrigg, Brenn Boyle, Zack Mixon and Justin Mixon.  Also, he had nine great grandchildren and three step-great grandchildren.

The family will receive friends and family from 1:00PM until 2:00PM on December 10^th, 2023, at First Christian Church with services following.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to First Christian Church designated to the Choir Fund at 307 East Third Street, Washington, NC, 27889.

Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com.

Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington is honored to serve the Woolard family.