Governor Bill Waller Laid to Rest

JACKSON, Miss. -- Thousands packed the First Baptist Church of Jackson on Saturday to say a final goodbye to former Mississippi Gov. William Waller.
Waller died Wednesday at the age of 85.
"He was my father and my best supporter," said Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Bill Waller Jr.
Waller Jr. said his father was a trailblazer
"He was an untiring worker to improve the lives of the citizens in this state," said Waller Jr.
The chief justice said his father should be remembered for the steps he took to help change race relations in the state and for involving African-Americans and women in government.
Waller was the first governor to appoint an African American to the state's college board and he put the first African-Americans on the highway patrol.
As a Hinds County district attorney, Waller twice prosecuted Bryon de la Beckwith who was charged with the assassination of Medgar Evers. Both trials ended with hung juries. The case was later reopened and Beckwith was convicted in 1994.
"I was 12 years old when that trial took place in 1964. It made a huge impression on me -- his commitment to follow the rule of law irrespective of what the social pressures might have been," Waller Jr. said.
Waller Jr .said his father not only leaves behind a legacy for helping to restore race relations but also for restoring the Governor's Mansion. When he took office, the mansion was in such bad shape that there was talk of turning it into a museum and finding an executive home in the suburbs.
To understand Bill Waller, you've got to understand what he is made of. And that is faith, fishing, family and fun," said Waller, Jr.


First, Waller, Jr. Explained his father's faith.


"You might be surprised to learn that the four boys, we all had a terrible drug habit. He drug us all to church," said Waller, Jr. to a room full of laughter. "Governor Waller met my mother, Carroll Waller in this church. The four boys, we all met our spouses in this church."


Fishing and fun. The younger Waller recalled a time when his father cast his line into the Reservoir and accidentally hooked his brother.


"My dad went for his tackle box and pulled a pair of pliers out...fortunately he saw better of it and took him to the emergency room," said Waller, Jr.


Finally, family.


"To punctuate the importance of family, you may know that my brother Eddie just recently returned from Afghanistan at the end of the summer," said Waller, Jr. "And he said his prayer was that my dad would live till he came back. And Eddie says 'My blessing is he did. I spent a lot of good time with him.' In fact, Eddie was there with him when he passed."


Waller's son tells us his dad was working as an attorney, still offering legal advice as recently as last Saturday.


Governor Bill Waller was 85.