TO THE EDITOR:

Last week, a star departed our Washington skies and the usual joy I feel at this time of year has been joined with periods of grief and melancholia. Like so many Washingtonians I have had similar periods of sadness during the years but one of the antidotes which could always address this despair was a visit to Fareway Builders and an exchange with Mr. Billy Cofer.

Billy could always be counted upon to provide a smile which would light up any room, a deep, rich laugh and an appreciation for my stories, often quite corny or dull. The picture in my mind that I most treasure of Billy is the one of Billy seated in his office amongst massive stacks of files, product brochures and thousands of other records of Fareway’s correspondence over several decades with Wilkes County customers.

I often joked with Billy that this entire repository of our area’s building products history should be willed to the Washington-Wilkes Museum. This brings on another story, around twenty years ago, of son, Ronnie Cofer, attempting to drag Billy into the “Information Age” and provide Billy with a computer and create the then fashionable “paperless office.”

There is no evidence that this computer was ever plugged in, much less turned on. In fact, Billy employed the monitor as a small reminder board and the flat space of the keyboard provided another resting place for coffee, sandwiches, hot soup and peanuts.

The other lasting image I have of Billy is at the high school football games, on a cold night wrapped in his winter clothes, complete with his stocking cap and a large bag of roasted peanuts. Look up “avid Washington-Wilkes football fan” in the dictionary and you’ll find the definition is Mr. Billy Cofer. Billy adored our high school football competitions but most of all, he loved the young people who participated whether they played on the field, in the band or cheered us on.

Also, his support extended to The Tiger Club and various needs of the athletic department. Billy’s generosity of personal time and his resources to our community was extensive but it was always discreet, as he did not wish recognition.

Volumes could be written, I am certain, about Billy but then I knew him for only eleven years and I envy all those who knew him longer.

A star has, indeed, taken leave of the Washington sky but I know Billy’s luminary can now be seen in some quarter of the heavens and wherever that is, the level of joy and laughter has been raised.

Rest in peace, Billy, and may God bless you. For those of us whose hearts you entered, you will never be really gone.

CARLTON NORRIS

December 25, 2005