William (Billy) Autry Switzer, 88, of Greenwood, passed away on Sunday, August 19, 2018 of respiratory and cardiac complications. A longtime resident of Greenwood, Billy was born on September 24, 1929 to Lee Roy Switzer and Mary Ellen McCollum Switzer and grew up in Artesia, Mississippi, near Columbus.

After graduating high school in 1947, he served in the US Army before attending the University of Mississippi on a baseball scholarship, where he pitched from 1950 to 1954. For over 40 years, he was employed by Columbus Marble Works as manager of Daves Monument Company in Greenwood until his retirement in 2003.  A member of North Greenwood Baptist Church for many years, Billy was known for his love of life, family, friends, hunting, fishing, and Ole Miss Sports.  He never met a stranger – and he loved to talk; never missing an opportunity to tell a joke or two.

Billy was predeceased by his parents, four brothers, and two sisters.   He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Bobbye Brantley Switzer; daughter, Paula Switzer of Birmingham, Alabama; sisters, Betty Moore of Nashville, Tennessee, and Geraldine Mattox of Charleston, South Carolina, and several nephews and nieces.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, August 22, 2018 from 12:00 PM till 1:00 PM at Wilson and Knight Funeral Home in Greenwood, Mississippi. Funeral services will follow at 1:00 PM in the funeral home chapel. Interment will be in Odd Fellows East Cemetery at 3111 HWY 82 E in Greenwood. Rev. Hugh Smith will officiate. Pallbearers will be David Taylor, Jim Garrett, Scott Montgomery, Miller Arant, Peter Jenkins, and Charles Buford. Honorary Pallbearers will be Pete Heard, Jerrard Heard, and Terry Parrish.

Paula would like to extend a special thanks to Charlie Mae Carradine, Beauty Meeks, Teresa Peeples, Naomi Meeks, Suzette Meeks, Catherine Davis, Jasmin Carter, Minnie Woods, and Cassandra Streeter for their care of her parents.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hope Animal Sanctuary, 52 County Road 241, Grenada, MS 38901. Wilson and Knight Funeral Home is in charge. Online guestbook may be signed at www.wilsonandknight.com