Willie Jamison, Jr.

Willie Jamison Jr. was born November 12, 1941 in Rowesville, SC son to Willie Jamison Sr. and Vera Dixon Jamison. He was one of eight children and the eldest of the four boys. Willie, also known as Bubba, Brown, and Billy grew up in Rowesville during the Jim Crow Era, where segregation was legal and education was limited for African Americans. Only finishing with a 11th grade education from Orangeburg County School, he travelled as a young man with his father to different cities and states working on farms to provide for the family. At the age nineteen, he met his future wife, Claylee Washington in Rowesville, SC. The two were married November 4, 1961. They soon became parents to a baby girl and moved to New York for better opportunities to raise a family. Over the years their family was blessed with another daughter and two sons. 

While living in New York, he attended school where he became a master painter working for Timothy Ahern. For years he worked as a Union painter. With his skills and hard-work, he was able to own his business called “Jamison Contracting.” Many of the buildings in the city painted and constructed by him still stand today. He became a member of the Freemasons in the ‘60s where he established brotherhood and friendships throughout the years. Willie also had a love and talent for music, aside from his growing business. He was a self-taught musician with a gift to be able to play song by just hearing it. He loved Sam Cooke and Otis Redding; some say he sang the song better than Otis. But his ultimate and absolute favorite song, he enjoyed and love to perform, is and always will be “Cooling Water,” By The Canton Spirituals. With his talent; he travelled across the country with his band; singing and playing his way into the crowds hearts.

In his later years, he reconnected and formed a relationship with God, after relocating back to his hometown of Rowesville, SC. He attended Bible College and graduated. Willie was a faithful member of Hickory Grove Baptist Church. At the age of 75 years old, Willie wrote and published his memoirs in a book called “Can You Walk A Mile In My Shoes?” He truly lived a fruitful and remarkable life. . His charming smile, blunt remarks, and soulful singing will be missed. 

Willie Jamison Jr. was preceded in death by his parents, Willie Jamison Sr. and Vera Dixon Jamison; his wife, Claylee Jamison; son Terrence Jamison; siblings Oscar Jamison and Laura Ann Staten; son-in-law Orlandau Major, brother -in-law George Washington, Clay Washington, David Washington, Earl Pough and sister -in-law Magalene Pough . He is survived by his three sisters; Margaret Young, Dorothy Ann Jacob, Williease Jamison and two brothers Hercules Jamison and Johnny Jamison; three children Vera Major, Yvonne Valbrun, and Alton Jamison; daughter-in-law Dorcas Jamison; sister-in-laws Fan Jamison, Deloris Bowman, Beulah Washington, and Theresa Washington and brother-in-laws Joseph Young, John Staten, Willie Freeman. He also leaves behind 13 grandchildren, an abundance of great grands, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and his only living Great Aunt Julia Wolfe.

The service will proceed as follows:

A memorial service will be held on Friday,October 9,2020 at Glover's Funeral Home beginning at 1:00pm.

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