William Bradley Wakeman passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 21, 2017. William was born in Shreveport, Louisiana on October 24, 1934. He was a lifelong resident of Shreveport. He attended Creswell Grammar School, Byrd High School, Louisiana Tech University, and Centenary College. He served in the United States Army and Army Reserve.

William began his career as a manufacturer's representative in the lighting and electrical supply business. He opened his business, Tri-State Lighting, in 1976 and operated the company until his retirement in 2001. He also had many hobbies. William loved to go snow skiing, play cards with friends, and his favorite hobby was flying.

William met the love of his life, Rose, when she moved to Shreveport to teach. He loved to travel with Rose, especially to England. They were happily married for over 50 years.

He considered his years as an active member of Alcoholics Anonymous his greatest blessing, surpassed only by talking Rose into marrying him and having his daughter Laura and his son-in-law Jon, and grandsons Brad, Wakey, and Will in his life. William stated, "AA saved me and gave me a life. That life was Rose Marie, my daughter Laura, and my grandsons. It also gave me a mother-in law and father-in-law that most people can only dream of having in their life. Before I had AA I had good friends and I was using them up. After AA I not only saved those friends but made many new ones. But the most important gift AA bestowed on me was a God of my understanding and acceptance. Ed Blewer was very important in keeping me in touch with AA when I strayed. That is how the program works, someone said, "we make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give"."

"I was a very fortunate man, good parents, good friends, a career that I had wanted since high school. My greatest handicap, the disease of alcoholism, gave me the opportunity to find AA."

William was preceded in death by his parents, William August Wakeman and Beatrice Oden Wakeman, his adored wife Rose Marie Nunnally Wakeman, and his sister, Mary Beatrice Wakeman. He is survived by his daughter Laura Wakeman Chemell and her husband Jon Chemell, grandsons, Bradley, Wakeman, and Will, sister-in-law Susie Nunnally, and a host of family and amazing friends.

Honorary Pallbearers: Peyton Moore, Leonard Selber, Bill Cook, John Hyatt, Bud Ray, Howard Bronson, Francois Randall, Vincent Rice, Bill Jones, Wayne Nash, Julius Savant, and Leon Bain

Visitation will be from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm on Thursday, March 30, 2017 in the parlor of Broadmoor Baptist Church where William and Rose were married, with the service immediately following at 3:00 pm in the Broadmoor Baptist Church Memorial Chapel. Dr. Tom Harrison will be officiating the service.

The family would like to express a special thanks to the staff at The Glen Retirement System. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to Central Office of Shreveport (2800 Youree Drive # 362, Shreveport, Louisiana 71104), or to the charity of your choice.