William "Sonny" Joseph Butler, Jr. was a caring husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. He passed away on Sunday, January 16, 2022, after an extended illness.

William was born December 22, 1943, in Forsyth County. He was preceded in death by his parents William and Jessie Butler; his father and mother-in-law, Pearse and Odessa Watkins; and a nephew, Gregory McCloud. He was a member at Word of Truth International Life Center where he was a faithful supporter.

William graduated in 1963 from Anderson High School where he excelled in football, basketball, and baseball. In 1990, he was inducted into the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School Sports Hall of Fame for his accomplishments at Anderson. He graduated from Winston-Salem State University in 1970 with a bachelor's degree in Intermediate Education and a minor in English.  He moved to Danville, Virginia to teach at Brosville Elementary School.  He later received his Exceptional Children's Certification from UNC-Chapel Hill.

In 1975, William returned to Winston-Salem to teach at Kernersville Middle School, Cook Intermediate School (1976), and Southwest Middle School (1978).  In 1984 he moved to Glenn High School where he was an assistant basketball coach and a linebacker coach for the football team. He also coached the boys' and girls' track teams. In 1986 his boys' track team won the Class-4A state championship and he was named the North Carolina High School Athletic Association Track Coach of the Year. In 1988 William moved to Carver High School and was the head track coach and the assistant coach in football and basketball.

In 1990, William was named the head boys' basketball coach at North Forsyth High School. With that appointment he became the fourth black head basketball coach for Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools. During his tenure he was an EC Resource teacher and was later named to the position of Athletic Director.

William retired from the WS/FC School System in 2004 but continued to teach and substitute at various high schools. He worked part-time teaching physical education and coaching the cross-country team at Atkins High School.

In 2006, he founded and organized the Atkins High School Sports Hall of Fame of which he was an honorary inductee. Aside from being an avid golfer, his love for sports led him to be actively involved in his sons' little league football and basketball programs.

William often said that his character was shaped largely by the strong work ethic he witnessed in his parents, unwavering family support and the strong positive mentoring he received from his coaches. He was passionate in sharing the lessons he learned with his students and the teams he coached.

He leaves behind to continue his legacy his wife of 50 years Brenda Watkins Butler; his three sons, Darriel (Guaniveria), William (Laura) of Charlotte and Jonathan (Joii) of Pfafftown; five grandchildren, Darriel, Paris, Bryce, Ezra, and Elly; four sisters, Katherine McCloud of Kernersville, Delores Lassiter of Clemmons, Patricia Higgins of Winston-Salem, Claudette Jarrett (Robert) of Lexington; one brother, Jessica Butler of Rural Hall. William also leaves to cherish his memory nieces, nephews, relatives, including his close friend, Winslow Lowery and close neighbor, Gary Gregg.

We will forever miss "Sonny's" ardent love of family and family history, his cheerful attitude, bright smile, and his uncanny sense of humor; but we thank God for the precious time we had with him.

Family visitation will be held from 11:00am –12:00pm on January 29, 2022, at Word of Truth International Life Center, 3806 Community Rd. Winston-Salem, NC 27107. A private service will follow with COVID Restrictions.