Obituary

William “Will” Everette Purdy, Jr., 37, of North Chesterfield, VA passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, May 4, 2023. He was born on December 18, 1985, in Richmond, VA to Pamela Sue Purdy and William Everette Purdy, Sr. He was preceded in death by both parents; his maternal grandmother, Anne Elizabeth Webb Guest; close friend, Everette Thomas “Tom Tom” Kitchen; his cat-son, Shadow “Baby Panther” Purdy; his dog-niece, Dallas “Dal Dal” Carrier; and his dog-nephew Chewy “Chew Chew” Purdy Goodall.

Will is survived by his sisters, Pamela Michelle Sullivan and Emily Anne Purdy Goodall; brothers-in-law, Mark Clifford Sullivan and Bryan Joseph Goodall; nephew, Phillip Everette Sullivan; niece, Maren Willow Goodall; nephew, Ian Jayce Goodall; best friends and chosen brothers Craig VanDexter and Eugene “Eugy” Carrier; as well as many other close friends.

Will grew up in Chesterfield and Prince George Counties. He graduated from Prince George High School in 2004. He attended Richard Bland College, where he earned an Associate of Science degree in 2006. Over the years, he worked in various fields. He ultimately found his work home at Shades of Light, where he held numerous positions over the last eight years, with his most recent position being DC Returns & Parts/Repair Manager.

Will was a lifelong sports fan. Any given day, he could be found showing his support for the Washington Commanders, the Atlanta Braves, the Washington Capitals, and Kevin Harvick. However, Will would also throw his support behind any team or player that would help him clinch any of the many fantasy sports titles he pursued or the numerous good-spirited bets he made with friends.

He was a Star Wars fan since childhood. From the original trilogy, the prequels, the sequels, and every series since – Will loved it all. Will proudly displayed his affection for all things Star Wars through shirts, hoodies, and collectibles – especially anything with Baby Yoda.

Most notably, Will’s love for his family, especially his niece and nephews, was apparent to anyone lucky enough to know him. But for Will, family didn’t end in blood. If Will considered you a friend, you were a part of his family. Being part of Will’s family meant that he had your back no matter what you were facing. Will would always show up for you, even when no one else would. His love and support will be deeply missed by all who had the honor to know him.

He will be remembered for his stellar sense of humor, particularly his ability to make someone laugh during the worst moments of their life; he will also be remembered for his big heart and his even kinder soul. Will left this world not owing anyone anything – he gave everything he had to give to everyone he loved along the way.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, May 21, 2023 at 12:00 PM at Morrissett Funeral & Cremation Service, located at 6500 Iron Bridge Road; Richmond, VA 23234. For those attending, please dress casually. Will was happiest in shorts and a T-shirt. He would not want anyone to go through the hassle of dress clothes on his account.

In lieu of flowers, please honor Will with an act of kindness in his name. If looking for a place to start with your act of kindness, please consider cheering on the Washington Commanders. Even a lifelong fan like Will would admit they need all the help they can get.