Published: September 20, 2021

William Alfred McNairy was born May 8, 1932 in Pulaski, Tennessee to the late John Nichol McNairy and Flavor Garrison McNairy. He was the third child of nine children. William has been a member of Rocky Mount Cumberland Presbyterian Church since 1951. He attended school in the Giles County school system.

William joined the Army and left for Fort Knox on February 24, 1953. On December 18, 1960, William married Priscilla Smith of Bodenham. They were married almost 59 years until his devoted “girlfriend” departed this world in 2019.

He was stationed at several military bases across the country and served multiple tours in Vietnam. He reached the rank of Master Sergeant in the U. S. Army. William retired from the U.S. Army on October 1, 1982 in a ceremony at Redstone Arsenal.

After retirement, he and Priscilla joined forces to open McNairy’s Flowerama, a flower shop just off the square in Pulaski. He enjoyed working on the farm and raising cows on Gimlet Creek Road. He devoted much of his spare time to the VFW, serving as Chaplain for the State office, board member of the South Central Human Resource Agency, and deacon of his Church.

He was preceded in death by his sisters, Mattie McClaurine, Fannie Bridgeforth, Bessie Gardner, Christine McNairy, Josephine McNairy, and brothers John Ed McNairy and Joe Louis McNairy. He is survived by a sister Alberta Berry of Evanston, Illinois. He is also survived by a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

An open viewing will be 9:00 until 4:00pm Thursday and Friday, September 23 & 24, 2021, at Bennett-May & Pierce Funeral Home.
A Private graveside service with full military honors will be held at Giles Memory Gardens in Pulaski, Tennessee.
Memorial donations are suggested to the charity of your choice in memory of William.

Bennett-May & Pierce Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements for William Alfred McNairy