William Gardner Hewes, Jr.

William Gardner Hewes, Jr. March 27 1939 – February 3 2025

 Heaven just picked up a new sandlot player. At the age of 85, in his final at-bat, William G. Hewes, Jr. closed out his career delivering a walk-off homer that is rooted in family, determination, dry wit, and unblemished candor. Having been engaged throughout his life in community organizations and endeavors, his commitment to Gulfport is unparalleled. Good character and a strong work ethic are how Billy measured himself and others, with honesty and integrity as hallmarks of how to live one’s life. He cherished the title, “Coach,” as much as “Dad,” and enjoyed interacting with people, more than most. Gulfport High School’s 1956 “Friendliest Person,” lived up to this billing throughout his life, finding ways to serve, whether through retail, insurance, or real estate sales, the military, youth sports, or civic involvement. Hewes was a natural leader who held very clear opinions and expectations when it came to matters of business and politics, but had a soft spot for individual causes, often taking special cases under his wing with charity and compassion. With family, it was a bit different. As one of three brothers, he married one of three sisters, the incomparable Sarah Lee Smith. It was a union of remarkable dynamics, to say the least. He was a Roman Catholic boy from the Coast. She was a “Hard-shell Southern Baptist” (her words) girl from Jackson. Sarah was an artist; Billy, a businessman. Romantic /Realist, etc. When worlds collide! Their home was one of love and struggle, laughter and mischief, creativity and discipline, nurture and expectation. Neatly wrapped in a common passion for all things related to the University of Southern Mississippi! SMTTT! Together, they began married life with next to nothing, and built a remarkable legacy through 59 years of marriage, endearing themselves to all. Born at Kings Daughters Hospital in Gulfport, Mississippi, on March 27, 1939, Billy had a strong faith and belief in God. In his boyhood and young adult years he attended church at St. John Catholic Church in Gulfport and was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Gulfport at the time of his death. He attended school at East Ward Elementary, Gulfport High School (Class of 1956). He also graduated from Mississippi Southern College (now the University of Southern Mississippi) in 1960 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Personnel Management. Upon graduation from Southern Miss., he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant through the Army R.O.T.C. program in the U.S. Army Transportation Corps. His military occupational specialty (M.O.S.) was a Stevedore Officer. He served an eight-year Army Reserve obligation and received an Honorable Discharge in 1968 with the Rank of Captain.

Upon graduating from Southern Miss in 1960, Billy was employed by National Supply, a Division of Armco Steel Corporation, where he worked as a truck driver, warehouseman, counter man, field salesman and store manager. In 1967, he was promoted to Armco's Steel Division where he was a tubular field engineer responsible for designing casing, tubing, and drill pipe strings for oil and gas wells, and for sales and troubleshooting for the oil country tubular goods products. In 1969 he resigned from Armco Steel and returned to Gulfport where he and his brother Charley, opened Hewes Brothers Department Store in downtown Gulfport. In 1978, Billy, President and General Manager, sold his interest in Hewes Brothers to Charley and several other local investors. On January 1, 1979, Billy became and insurance agent for Nationwide Insurance where he worked until retiring on March 31, 1998. While at Nationwide, he earned numerous awards including Challenger, Executive, and Presidents Club (the top 2% of agents in Nationwide's 5000-member agency force - four times) designations. He was also Agent of the year in 1980 for Nationwide's South-Central Region for the states of Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, and Kentucky. While an insurance agent, he entered the Real Estate business in 1987 as the Broker for Billy Hewes Real Estate, which he owned and operated until time of his death. He has attained the life membership status as a member of the Realtors Top Producer Club (formerly known as the Million Dollar Roundtable).

 In 1997 he was elected Gulfport's first Ward 7 Councilman, where he served for eight years. In 1974, he was named Gulfport's Outstanding Young Man by the Gulfport Jaycees. Billy was a graduate of Leadership Gulf Coast Class of 1997, and a member of the Southern Miss Alumni Association, Eagle Club and Honors Club, and the Great Southern Club. He was inducted into the Southern Miss Alumni Hall of Fame in 2014. He was a past President of the Mississippi Retail Merchants Association, Gulfport Jaycees, Gulfport City Council, and the Broadwater Country Club, past Vice-President of the Gulfport Area Chamber of Commerce, past Treasurer of the Harrison County Development Commission, and a former member of the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Board of Trustees.

 As a local businessman, he sponsored youth baseball, softball, soccer, football, and basketball teams in the Gulfport area for over forty years. He was a member of the Gulfport Gridiron Club for many years, an organ donor, and enjoyed reminiscing with the R.O.M.E.O (Retired Old Men Eating Out) lunch bunch. 

 Billy had a strong appreciation and love for the men and women who were honest and worked hard to succeed in life. To him that was the American way and what makes our country the great country it is today through hard work, determination to succeed, dedication, and faith in God in whatever we do every day in our endeavors, at all times. He especially had a place in his heart, mind, and soul for his family, relatives, and friends, as well as a strong belief in and allegiance to his country, state, city and the University of Southern Mississippi. Billy bled a lot of black and gold through the (mostly) ups and (some) downs of his beloved Southern Miss Golden Eagles on both the athletic and scholastic fronts.

 He was preceded in death by his parents, Chancery Judge William G. Hewes, Sr., and Janie Price Hewes both natives of Gulfport, his wife Sarah Lee Smith Hewes, and his Grandson, Charles Parker Hewes. He is survived by three sons, Billy Hewes Ill (Paula), Charlie Hewes (Dane), and Michael Hewes (Kay) all residents of Gulfport. Billy is also survived by eight of the most wonderful grandchildren God has ever created. They are Katie (John Payton) Hood, Sarah Margaret Hewes, Gardner (Melissa) Hewes, Sam Hewes, Maridane (Kadin) Hewes-Snow, Holden Hewes, Jack Hewes and Rush Hewes, and three great-grandchildren, John Hewes Hood, Katherine Louise Hood, and Margaret Jean Hewes. He is also survived by his two brothers, Charley (Henrianne) Hewes and Andy (Sara) Hewes, two nieces Joanna (Jorge) Willars and their three children, Hanna, Jake and Sara and Clare (Jason) Bennett and their sons Audie and Dirk, a nephew Henry (Karen) Hewes and many other relatives and good friends who he loved dearly.

 In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Vincent de Paul Society, St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 2414 17th Street, Gulfport, MS 39501, or the USM Foundation, 118 College Drive, Hattiesburg, MS 39406.

A visitation will be held from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Wednesday, February 5, 2025 at Riemann Funeral Home on Three Rivers Road in Gulfport. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 am on Thursday, February 6, 2025 at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Gulfport, with visitation starting at 10:00 am.