William Alexander Major, Jr. (Wam) passed away on Saturday, August 19, 2017, after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson's disease.
Wam was born December 2, 1942, in Birmingham, Alabama to William (Billy) and Lucia Beddow Major and was raised in Montgomery, Alabama, and Destin, Florida. He attended Sidney Lanier High School in Montgomery where he excelled in both academics and sports. One of his greatest thrills as a football player at Sidney Lanier was opening his football locker, only to discover Bart Starr's name etched into the door.
Wam attended the University of Alabama Honors College. He was a proud and active member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity and was an active participant in intramural athletics. Academically, he was selected to participate in the newly created American Studies Program at Alabama which became a nationally recognized curriculum of interdisciplinary studies. After graduation from The Capstone, Wam earned his law degree from the University of Virginia. While in law school he played for Virginia Rugby Club and was instrumental in bringing rugby to Birmingham.
Following graduation from law school, Wam began his law career clerking for Judge Seybourn Lynne of the US District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. He then joined the firm of Cabaniss, Johnson, Gardner, Dumas, and O'Neal. Having an interest in energy law, he moved to Sonat, Inc., his client, from where he retired in 1992 as Senior Vice President. While at Sonat, Wam completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.
Wam greatly enjoyed memberships at Mountain Brook Club, Willow Point Country Club, and Sea Island Club, and was an active member of The Redstone Club. As an avid and highly accomplished sailor, Wam enjoyed many trips with his family and friends throughout the Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic, Caribbean, and Mediterranean. His happiest times were when he could gather his family together on his boat, biking, or handing out together in Destin or at Lake Martin.
Wam is survived by his wife of 24 years, Alice Benton Major and their son William Alexander Major, his three daughters Frannie Aura (Erik), Barbara Lucia Major (Stephen Jackson) and Mimi Major, and their mother Emily Chenoweth, as well as his many grandchildren, Addie Aura, Lucia, Eli and Garrit Jackson, and Margot and Grace Bittick.
Wam was a person of profound intellect, enormous grace, and charm. He had an endless warmth and love for his family and friends. He was one of those individuals who always generously and positively impacted the lives of everyone around him. He will be greatly missed.
The family would like to express our gratitude to the wonderful caregivers who provided Wam incomparable love and care, Arthur Byers, Corey Daniel, Larry Dunbar and Tim Burke.
A memorial service will be held Monday, August 28, at St. Mary's-on-the-Highlands Episcopal Church, 1910 12th Ave. South, Birmingham, Alabama, at 11:00 a.m., with visitation at 10.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that gifts be made to the UAB Department of Neurology for the William A. Major, Jr. Parkinson's Disease Research Fund. Gifts can be mailed to Kate Tully, Director of Development and Community Relations, 1720 2nd Ave South, SC420B, Birmingham, AL, 35294-0017.
Published in The Birmingham News from Aug. 25 to Aug. 27, 2017