On December 1, 2024, Dr. James W. "Bill" Geouge, loving husband, father and preacher, peacefully went home to be with the Lord at age 92, his son Ronnie by his side.  His last message to his family and friends was how much he loved them and how much they meant to him. His final prayer was that they love God and each other and that they walk with God, honor Him, lift up His name and seek His will.

Bill was born in Celo, N.C. on June 4, 1932. He graduated from Micaville High School. On November 20, 1954, he married Frances Jones Geouge. They were married for 67 years and raised 3 sons Jimmy, Wayne, and Ronnie in Hampton, Virginia.

Bill studied at the Newport News Shipbuilding Apprentice School. He served four years in the Navy with two of those years on board the USS Missouri BB63. He worked for NASA Langley Research Center as a model maker and supervisor of Quality Assurance. During his 26 years at NASA, he worked on the space shuttle and the Apollo program.

He was called by God into the ministry. His heart was for soul winning, the bus ministry and missions. Bill graduated from Central Baptist Bible Institute in 1976. He received an honorary Doctorate from Victory Baptist Bible Seminary. Over the years he pastored Freedom Baptist Church in Chester, Virginia and served as Interim Pastor at East Hampton Baptist Church. He was Pastor Emeritus of Sharon Baptist Church in Hampton, Virginia, where he pastored faithfully for 25 years. During his ministry, he performed over 400 baptisms, saw countless souls saved, and began a bus ministry and a grace giving program to support missionaries in spreading the gospel. He described himself as an old country preacher and none of us will forget the "mule" stories he told to illustrate Bible principles. Under his preaching and teaching people learned about God and His word and grew in Christ. After retirement from the ministry, he became a faithful member of Corinth Baptist Church in New Kent County, Virginia. He taught Sunday school there for many years.

He was preceded in death by his father Nute Geouge, his mother Winnie Geouge, his oldest son Jimmy Geouge, and his loving wife Frances Geouge. He is survived by his sons Wayne (Jackie) and Ronnie (Lynn), grandchildren Adam and Garrett (Haley), three great- grandchildren Marlowe Ryan Geouge, Camren Elise and Lucas, his brother Harry Barker and, his sister Shirley Briggs.

The family will receive friends Tuesday, December 10 from 11 AM – 12 PM at Sharon Baptist Church, 2625 N Armistead Ave. Hampton, Virginia with a funeral service to begin at 12 PM. Burial will follow in Hampton Memorial Gardens. Arrangements by R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home.