Rev. William A. Shourds (Bill) went home to his precious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on January 4th, 2022, where he joined his wife of 42 years, Claire and son Robert.
Bill was born in Lynwood, NJ to the late Walter William and Ora Anna Lafferty Shourds. Bill lost his dad at 19 and hated God for it. After 10 years of failures, on August 28, 1961, when Bill was contemplating suicide with a gun in his hand, he cried out to God and discovered that God was there all the time. Bill dedicated his life to Christ, found and married Claire, and loved, testified about, and served God the remainder of his days.
Bill and Claire raised their family in NJ and then moved to Wake Forest for Bill to attend South Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary. They moved to Wilmington, NC, to be house parents at the Yahweh Center for four years. Afterwards, they led the Lampstand Ministries, a homeless mission near Taylor Homes for 6 years. Afterwards they led the State Port Seaman’s Center almost 10 years where they touched lives from over the world. His life is remembered by all as a “servant of Christ.”
Bill is survived by three daughters: Eleanor Raylman (Charles), Patricia Cole (Lewis), Pamela Laucks (Michael) and four sons: Jonathan Shourds (Cathaline), Gordon Shourds (Heather), Francis Shourds (Heather) and 12 grandchildren: Lesha, Jena, Alinda, Michael & Michael, Kelly, Jonathan II, William, Amanda, Christopher, Jonathan, Caitlyn Rose and 13 great grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at Bill’s home church, Scotts Hill Baptist, at 11am on Saturday, January 15th.
In lieu of flowers please make donations to the International Seaman’s Center, PO Box 486, Wilmington, NC, 28401 or Samaritan’s Purse, www.samaritanspurse.org.
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Wilmington Funeral & Cremation, 1535 S. 41st Street, Wilmington NC 28403
910.791.9099
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