Obit: William C. Weaver III (1941- 2007)

[UPDATED 2:25 p.m. with further details from family]
Philanthropist and community leader passes away after long battle with MS

Email | Print By Ken Whitehouse

William C. Weaver III, a well known community leader and philanthropist, passed away at home in his sleep early this morning at the age of 66. Weaver had long battled multiple sclerosis and was in the hospital as recently as last week.

Diagnosed with the disease in 1977, Weaver said often, "I may have MS, but MS doesn't have me." His life proved the statement true.

Born in 1941 to "Big Bill" and Elizabeth Weaver, Bill, as he was known, was a member of one of Nashville's most prominent families. His great-grandfather, C. A. Craig, was one of the founders of the National Life and Accident Insurance Co., and his father was chairman of that firm, which started a radio show in 1925 to sell insurance.

That radio show was the "Grand Ole Opry."

Bill Weaver worked for the family business, which was sold in the early 1980s, until 1983. After that, he devoted most of his energy and resources to philanthropy. He was a major benefactor to numerous causes that aimed to improve the lives of Nashville's less fortunate, and that is how he will best be remembered.

One of Weaver's favorite causes was the Time to Rise program, which he helped start. This academically based, year-round initiative is designed to "help at-risk youth increase their life chances through academic excellence," according to information about the program on the YMCA website. It targets students from grades 5-8 in at-risk communities who demonstrate academic potential and maintain good school attendance.

Weaver and his wife, Nicky, also funded the building of the YWCA's domestic violence center to provide a safe haven and resource for battered women. In appreciation of their support, the building was named in their honor.

Aside from his charitable donations, Weaver will also be remembered for his indomitable spirit. Not one to make excuses, Weaver let his wheelchair propel him forward and not hold him back. Rex Hammock, a friend of Weaver's and owner of Hammock Publishing, shared one such memory on his weblog earlier today of how Weaver used to give rides to his children on his wheelchair on Halloween.

Weaver is survived by his mother, Elizabeth Proctor, wife Nicky, children Collins Hooper, Will Weaver and Craig Weaver, aunt Margaret Ann Craig Robinson, uncle Cornelius Abernathy Craig, II, sister, Becky Lane, and five grandchildren.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday at the home of Collins and Tom Hooper, 420 Ellendale Ave., from 3 to 7 p.m.. A memorial service will be held on Friday at West End United Methodist Church beginning at 3 p.m., visitation begins at 2.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Time to Rise, Sewanee University, the MS Clinic at Vanderbilt Stallworth Center, or the YWCA Bill and Nicky Weaver Domestic Violence Center.

UPDATE, 2:25 p.m. Monday:

The Weaver family has issued an obituary with further details:

Mr. Weaver was born on March 18, 1941. He attended Woodberry Forest School in Virginia and Hatch School in Newport, Rhode Island, where he graduated class valedictorian. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from The University of the South at Sewanee where he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. He also lettered in basketball and tennis where he was ranked 4th in the state. After college, he served as an Airman First Class in the Air Force Reserve from 1964-1970.

Mr. Weaver began his business career with National Life and Accident Insurance Company (later to become the NLT Corporation) in 1965. In 1968 he received the top Agent Award, was leading Manager in the Pacific Coast Region, and runner-up to District Manager of the entire company by taking his district in Santa Ana, California from the bottom of the Company of 360 districts to the top. A career member of the Top Hat Club, he ultimately became Vice President and Director of Agencies until he left the company in 1983. From 1983-1985 he was President and Chief Operating Officer of U.S. Financial Services. In 1985 he joined Alexander & Alexander Insurance Company as Vice President and was soon recognized as their top producer. Due to physical limitations from Multiple Sclerosis, Mr. Weaver left Alexander & Alexander on disability but continued to excel in the business community from his home as co-founder of AmSurg, birthing the single specialty surgery center concept in 1992.

Mr. Weaver served on numerous boards, including: The Salvation Army, where he started the first Boy Scout and Brownie Troops; United Way's Success By 6; the Cumberland Museum and Science Center, serving as Chairman; Monteagle Sunday School Assembly, where he was President of The Endowment Committee; West End United Methodist Church, Administrative Board and Head Usher; Third National Bank; NashvilleRead; Rotary Club; Middle Tennessee Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society as President; and the University of the South at Sewanee, where he was a Trustee.

Mr. Weaver received many civic awards in his lifetime. Among them, the Boy Scouts of America's Silver Beaver Award, Cumberland Museum's Vernon Sharp Award, M.S. Society's Silver Hope Chest Award, University of the South's Distinguished Alumnus Award, Philanthropist of the Year Spirit of Giving Award, YMCA's Urban Services Award, the Junior League of Nashville's Paragon Community Service Award, and the Nashville Conference of Christians and Jews Community-At-Large Award. He was a member of Leadership Nashville, The Nashville Chamber of Commerce, The Rotary Club, and Belle Meade Country Club.

Mr. Weaver was a co-founder of the Nashville Chapter of Operation Smile, Starfish early education program in Metro Schools, and The Sponsors' Scholarship Program for college applicants. He was the driving force behind the placement of Community Learning Centers within two Dollar General Stores in the Sam Levy Projects and Sudekam Napier Community. He chaired the capital campaign for the YWCA's Domestic Violence Shelter - later to be named "The Weaver Domestic Violence Shelter." The Chair of Neurology at Vanderbilt for Multiple Sclerosis was established in his name.

Always passionate about providing a hand up to the under served, Mr. Weaver co-founded Time to Rise, Inc. in 1993. This program, located on the campuses of Montgomery Bell Academy, Ensworth, Harpeth Hall, and the University School of Nashville, provides at risk 4th-6th graders academic, athletic, and social opportunities. To date, over a thousand youth have benefitted and many are now in college.

He was an avid sportsman, a devoted husband, a beloved father and grandfather, and a tireless champion for the Nashville community. He was and will always be an inspiration to the many lives he touched.

Mr. Weaver is survived by his wife of 39 years, Nancy Johnson Weaver; daughters Collins Weaver Hooper (Tom), Jane Craig Weaver Friedrich (Rob), and son William Cheatham Weaver, IV (Kristen); grandchildren Kathryn Eads Hooper, Margaret Livingston Hooper, William Cheatham Weaver V, Samuel Witt Weaver, and Charles Cook Friedrich; mother, Elizabeth Craig Weaver Proctor; sister Elizabeth Weaver Lane (Raleigh); aunt Margaret Ann Craig Robinson; uncle Cornelius Abernathy Craig, II. He is preceded in death by his father, William Cheatham Weaver Jr.

Visitation will be at the home of Tom and Collins Hooper, 420 Ellendale Avenue on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 from 3-7pm. A Memorial Service, officiated by Tom Laney, will be held at West End United Methodist Church on Friday, December 14, 2007 at 3pm, with additional visitation prior to the service at 2pm. Honorary Pallbearers are all who have touched his life.

In lieu of flowers, please direct your gifts to The Time to Rise Endowment Fund at The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, The University of the South at Sewanee, Tennessee, the YWCA Weaver Domestic Violence Center, The MS Clinic at Vanderbilt Stallworth Center, or to the charity of one's choice.