William "Bill" Benford Major, Jr.

William “Bill” Benford Major, Jr., age 76 years, 7 months and 1 day of Steelville, Missouri passed away Monday, June 16, 2025 in his home surrounded by his family. He was born November 15, 1948 in St. Francois County, Bonne Terre, MO to William Benford Major, Sr. and Beulah Major,nee Wisdom.       

 He attended school at Esther and Sullivan, MO and graduated from Esther High School in 1966.

Bill enlisted in the U.S. Army May 25, 1966 and had his basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. He was deployed to serve in Vietnam, with a specialty title of Clerk-Typist. Honorably discharged from the Army on May 23, 1969, Bill continued to serve with the Army National Guard and later the Air Force Reserve. He was honorably discharged from the MOANG (MO National Guard) and as a Reservist of the Air Force effective January 20, 1990.

After returning home, Bill married Ginger Reed and to their union three children were born.

Bill attended Central Bible College in Springfield, MO and was appointed by the Mississippi District of the Assembly of God Church to serve as the pastor of the First Assembly of God Church in Sardis, MS.

Bill married Mary Stark in August of 1987 and they have lived in Steelville. He was employed for the Department of Corrections at Potosi, MO. Bill and Mary enjoyed time with their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He and Mary attended the Steelville Presbyterian Church. They enjoyed traveling to the East coast (Virginia Beach area), Smoky Mountains, Colorado and Idaho throughout the years.

Bill enjoyed hunting and especially fishing for crappie. He also spent many hours rehabbing homes in Steelville along with all of his carpentry knowledge and building several pieces of furniture, tables, hope chests, quilts racks, shelves and other furniture pieces for his family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Beulah Major; one brother, Charles “Butch” Major and two sisters, Thelma (Oscar) Nabors and Sue Dorton.

He will be sadly missed by his wife of almost 38 years, Mary Major; one son, William (Joey) Major III of Desloge, MO; two daughters, Laurie Major of Farmington, MO and Denise Ash of Sullivan, MO; two step-daughters, Christy (Terry) Haist of Cuba, MO and Angie O’Neill of Pacific, MO; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; bonus grandchildren; and bonus great-grandchildren; other relatives; and friends.   

The Family received friends at 9:00 A.M. to 10:00 A.M. on Monday, June 30, 2025 at the Steelville Presbyterian Church, Steelville, MO.

A Celebration of Life was held at 10:00 A.M on Monday, June 30, 2025 with Rev. Jerry Beers officiating. . Special music of “Go Rest High” was sung and played by William “Billy” Major, III on guitar and “In the Garden” and “Amazing Grace” was played by pianist, Diane Pickup.

An Inurnment Service was held at 2:30 P.M. on Monday, June 30 at the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis, MO with Military Honors by the U.S. Army. The local South Central Patriot Guard Riders stood in honor of Mr. Major at the Steelville Presbyterian Church along with an escort to Interstate 44 for the Service in St. Louis.

In lieu of flowers, Memorials may be given to the Steelville Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 860, Steelville, MO  65565

The Major Family was served by the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville, MO.

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