William Barksdale known to his friends in Brooklyn, New York as "Billy" and to some close friends at Union Branch Baptist Church as "Toothpick Man", departed this life and entered rest on March 28, 2026. William was born on February 10, 1940, to Harvey Barksdale and Alease Dodson Barksdale in Halifax, Virginia.

He was baptized at an early age at the First Baptist Church in Petersburg, Virginia.  He retired from Construction & General Building Local 79, New York.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother; grandparents; aunts and a host of other relatives. William leaves to cherish his memories: his wife of sixty-six years, Shirley A. Barksdale; one son, William Larnell (Hattie); two daughters, Erselyn (James) and Sheila (Troy); five grandchildren, Corey (Caryn), Christopher (Lorraine), Terrell (Shaquan), Travis and Nia; twelve great grandchildren; a loving sister-in-law, Sheila Harris; one cousin; close as sister, Rosa Bouldin; one aunt 99 years old, LA Parker; a host of other relatives one special in Georgia, Elva Barksdale  and her children, Alphonso, Laurn and Joy.

William was a jokester who made everyone laugh.  He will be missed by his family and friends.

Services will be held 2:00 P.M., Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at Union Branch Baptist Church, 11519 River Road, Chesterfield, VA, the Rev. Dr. Gregory M. Howard, Pastor, eulogist. The interment to follow in the church cemetery.

J. M. Wilkerson Funeral Establishment, Inc., 102 South Avenue, Petersburg, VA, (804) 732-8911, www.jmwilkersonsince1874.com. Watch the funeral services live online on our J. M. Wilkerson Funeral Establishment, Inc. Facebook page or click here to view: https://vimeo.com/event/5850242?fl=so&fe=fs