Willie Gordon Downing died peacefully at his home on January 21, 2016, at the age of 92. He was preceded in death by his father, Gordon Downing; mother, Emma Prince Downing; sister, Pauline Downing; sister, Ollie Peacock. His many friends knew him as "Bud" Downing. Bud was a master builder by trade. He operated a construction firm with his father until his father's death in 1967. After the death of his father, he and his brother-in-law, Z.B. Peacock, operated Peacock Construction Co. until the late 1990's.
Bud was born in Columbus, GA where he and his father built a large portion of Fort Benning during World War II. Also while in Columbus, they built the large building housing the Sunshine Biscuit Co. During the 1970's they built many fine homes in SE DeKalb County. During the late 1970's and 1980 Bud and his brother-in-law built many homes in Newton and Rockdale Counties. Their commercial projects include the building of the U.S. Post Office on Stallings Street in Covington, where their superior brickwork is still prevalent today. They also built most of the Newton County High School and Porterdale Elementary School on Ram Drive. One of their most challenging accomplishments was the moving intact of an old Bibb house on Poplar Street in Porterdale to South Broad Street, and converting it to the Porterdale Post Office.
Bud was very well liked by his many cousins. He was always available to help them with their homework projects where building or engineering knowledge was required. Bud was of the Baptist faith, and his entire lifetime was devoted to his Christian beliefs.
Survivors include his first cousins, Mrs. Emma Bowen, Ms. Ann Joyner, Harry Leon Long, Ms. Sharon Wallace, Mrs. Debbie Gossage; as well as many other cousins.
A Memorial Service for Bud will be held in Memory Chapel Mausoleum at Lawnwood Memorial Park, 4:00 PM, Wednesday, January 27, 2016.
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