William Randall, Sr.

Mr. William Ashton "Picket" Randall, age 89 of Gulfport, MS, died Saturday, August 18, 2018. A retired businessman, Picket was a loving son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Richmond Carl Randall of Quitman, MS, and Josephine Cummins Power of Gulfport, MS; brothers, R.C. Randall of Gulfport, MS and Bobby Joe Randall of Gulfport, MS; his wife of 60 years, Lillian Culpepper (Cully) Randall; and a granddaughter, Anne Kathryn Marshall.
Survivors include sons, Bill (wife Doris) of Gulfport, MS, Jeff (wife Sally) of Madison, MS, Steve (wife Lynne) of Pensacola, FL; daughters Marian Marshall (husband Joey) of Biloxi, MS, Martha Stephens (husband Paul) of Jackson, MS, and Lucy Pribyl (husband Barry) of Gulfport, MS; seventeen grandchildren; and twenty-seven great-grandchildren.
Born and raised in Gulfport, Picket attended Gulfport City Schools, and graduated from Gulfport High School as a member of the Class of 1948. He attended Perkinston Jr. College, where he was a member of the 1949 National Football Championship team. Soon after they were married, Picket and Cully moved to New Mexico and then to Alabama so Picket could complete his education and play college football.
After college, Picket and Cully returned to Gulfport, where he began working for the Gulfport Creosote Company. Soon, he established Treated Materials Company in Gulfport with Steve Wilson. An active parishioner of St. Peter's by-the-Sea Episcopal Church in Gulfport, Picket served the church in a variety of areas including being a member of the Vestry, an EYC sponsor, and singing in the church choir.
Picket was devoted to Cully, their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and loved their large family gatherings at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. He particularly enjoyed presiding over the awards ceremony after the family Easter egg hunts, making sure each child received numerous Gold Brick Eggs for things such as most eggs, prettiest eggs, or best in show. Everybody got an award. He was also fortunate to have had coffee with Santa, Rudolf, and the Easter Bunny on numerous occasions, as they would always discretely tap on the sliding glass door to inquire whether he had been a good boy or not. Picket established many family traditions around special occasions such as birthdays, and those traditions have been passed down from his children to his grandchildren.
Additionally, Picket was involved in numerous community organizations, sponsored a variety of youth sports teams, and supported the Gulfport High School Football program. Some of his greatest joy came from the comradery he shared on the golf course with his dearest friends.
Visitation for family and friends will be held from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM, Friday, August 24, at the RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 11280 Three Rivers Road, Gulfport. The funeral mass will begin at 10:00 a.m. at St. Peter's with the Reverends Patrick Sanders, Liz Jones, and Paul Stephens officiating, with a visitation one hour prior. Burial will follow at Floral Hills Memorial Gardens in Gulfport.
Grandsons Ashton Randall, Jackson Randall, Will Randall, Garrett Marshall, Nason Stephens, Barry Pribyl, and nephews Rich Randall and B.J. Randall, will serve as pallbearers.
The Randall family would like to thank the entire staff at One Magnolia Place for their loving and attentive care during Picket's stay.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to St. Peter's by-the-Sea Episcopal Church, 1909 15th Street, Gulfport, MS 39501.
An online obituary may be viewed and condolences and photos shared at www.riemannfamily.com