William Macarthy Rawlings

WILLIAM MACARTHY RAWLINGS (Punchie), entered into eternal rest on Saturday, December 1, 2018 at the Medical College of Virginia Hospital in Richmond, Virginia. He was born on April 21, 1950, to the late Sara Rawlings and William Johnson in Southampton County, Virginia, and reared by his aunt Ellen Goffigan.

William attended Riverview High School in Southampton County, Virginia where he later received his GED and from there enlisted into the Marine Corps in October, 1970 serving his country until April, 1975. After the military, he furthered his education taking courses at Paul D. Camp Community College in Franklin, Virginia.
William began his correctional career in 1984 at the Youthful Offender Center where he was employed for ten years. The majority of his work career was in the correctional field where he was employed at numerous facilities and retired as a Sergeant with 26 years of service from Greensville Correctional Facility.
William joined Green Chapel RZUA Church in 1991, where he remained a faithful member until his health began to fail. William loved the Lord and was often found listening to gospel music and attending church services throughout the community.
In 1988, William met the love of his life, Mary Helen Smith, and they later married on October 16, 1993. The two were inseparable, when you saw Mary you saw Punchie and vice versa. Even though they did not have children of their own, together they stepped in and raised Mark and Mike Hall, after the death of Mary’s older sister, Dorothy Hall. They were special guardians to Terry (Peanut) Smith and Darin Smith. William enjoyed life and being around family and friends, he never met a stranger, especially every year at his annual fish fry.
William was preceded in death by one brother, Earl Rawlings. He leaves to cherish his memories, his wife of 25 years, Mary Helen Rawlings and of course and his baby girl, their dog, Joy Rawlings; three children; William D. Rawlings (Nikki), Washington DC; LaVelle Meadows (Tyeesha) of Raleigh, NC; and RaShell Smith (Aaron) of Washington, DC; fourteen grandchildren; DeSean Delaney; DeQuan Delaney; Nakita Delaney; Eboni Reynolds; Tashori Meadows; Stanley Mayo, Jr.; Kiara Mayo; Tamaira Thomas; Tyler Thomas; and Aaron, Aaliyah, Ameer, Kaedir, and Khaliq Smith; three sisters; Kimberly Ames of Eastern Shore, VA; Felecia Edwards (Toby) of Drewryville, VA; and Teresa Glover (Gerald) of Tennessee; three brothers; William Turner (Tina) of Emporia, VA; Quentin Turner of Maryland and Larry Turner of Philadelphia; one uncle; George Rawlings (Anna) of Boykins, VA; four aunts; Christine Banks of Franklin, VA; Evelyn Johnson of Annapolis, MD; Mildred Rawlings of Franklin, VA and Patricia Harris of Franklin, VA; four sister-in-laws; Faye Rawlings of Capron, VA; Effie Macklin (John) Spencerville, MD; and Evelyn Gilliam (Shelford) Bowie, MD; seven brother-in-laws; Leroy Smith, Daniel Smith, Earnest Smith (Brenda); Samuel Smith (Desiree) Moses Smith (Myra) all of Emporia, VA; Frank Smith (Linda) of Mitchellville, MD; and Bradley Smith (Dale) Parlin, NJ; four God-Sons Rashaun Smith; Jermaine Jackson; Marlon Jefferson of Emporia, VA; and Marty Royal of Amelia, VA; two God-Sisters; Constance Scott of Skippers, VA and Delois Gilliam of Capron, VA; a Special Cousin William “Boy” Rawlings and a host of beautiful nieces and nephews of which he had a special affection for Jillian Macklin “Sweet Milk” of Spencerville, MD and Maura Smith “IT” of Emporia, VA; as well as a host of cousins and friends. Punchie loved you all.

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