William Luther Hanks

William Luther Hanks, 83, passed away on Thursday, June 4, 2026. He was born on January 7, 1943, in Sardis, Mississippi then moving to Batesville, Mississippi where he attended South Panola High School, playing football and running track, he developed passions for sports along with art/architecture and design. These qualities took him Northwest Community College in Senatobia, Mississippi, to purse design (AutoCAD and Drafting). After moving to Vicksburg, Mississippi he joined the Army Reserves (Military police) and took a job with Waterways Experiment Station and later Burns Cooley Dennis of Ridgeland, Mississippi. He met and married Lelia, his bride of nearly 60 years and they became youth leaders at Highland Baptist Church for nearly 3 decades. William (Sonny, BJ, Little Atlas or Bill) never met a stranger in all his well-worn years of serving others, teaching, volunteering, drawing and designing house plans, that now populate Vicksburg and surrounding areas or taking on younger opponents in friendly sporting events (weightlifting) all with a smile. After his second retirement he passionately pursed his love for playing the guitar.

William is preceded in death by his parents JW and Ester Hanks of Batesville, Mississippi, (Sister) Bettye Sue Thornton of Sardis, Mississippi, (Sister)Lorretta and (Brother-in-Law) Thomas Smith of Courtland, Mississippi and (Brother) James and (Sister-in-Law) Lorretta Hanks of Courtland, Mississippi.

William is survived by his loving wife, Lelia McNeill Hanks of Pine Bluff Arkansas, two daughters LaMonica (Jamie) Brooks of Madison, Mississippi; Amy (Farid) Atarji of Florence, Mississippi and honorary son Michael (Janice) Nassour of Ellisville, Mississippi. His grandchildren and great grandchildren Blake (Kiana, James Gering and Blakey) Brooks, Andrew (Kylee) Brooks, Noor (Leo, Orion and Phoenix Atarji, Mo (Luke) Atarji, Nadia (Judea, Rowdy) Atarji, Nadine (Cassie, Walker Ward and Allie Price) Ward, Hassaan Atarji, Naila Atarji, Sam (KandonKahl) Atarli and Zaina Atarji. Along with several nieces and nephews of both the Hanks and McNeill families

Visitation service will be at Glenwood Funeral Home in Vicksburg, Mississippi on Thursday, June 11, 2026 with a private family graveside service to follow. 

Pallbearers will be Jamie Brooks, Farid Atarji, Michael Nassour, Blake Brooks, Andrew Brooks, Mo Atarji, Sam Atarji and Kandon Kahl.  Honorary Pallbearers will be the deacons of Highland Baptist Church.

In Lieu of flowers donations to the American Cancer Society would be appreciated.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of William Luther Hanks, please visit our floral store.