William Douglas Walston

William Douglas Walston, “Doug”, age 86, of Nashville, went to his heavenly home on March 1, 2022 at his home, surrounded by his family.

A private homegoing graveside service will be held Friday, March 4, 2022, in the Mausoleum at the Rocky Mount Memorial Park. The family will receive friends & family at the home of his son, Jeff Walston and wife, Dawana at 2325 S. Halifax Rd., Rocky Mount, NC on Thursday, March 3, 2022, from 4:00 – 7:00 PM.

Doug was born in Pikeville, NC to Percy Bruce and Susan Driver Walston. On October 15, 1954, he married his sweetheart, Jean, in Dillon, SC, and immediately joined the US Army and later, the National Guard. Doug and Jean started their life journey together in Wilson, NC and later relocated to Greensboro, NC where he spent several years developing his general contracting business. He later moved the family and business to Rocky Mount, NC in 1973 where they remained until settling in Nashville, NC in 2015. They made Ridgecrest Worship Center their church home where Doug was blessed to put his servant’s heart to work in any building or construction need that would arise.

No one who met Doug forgot his infectious passion for building, a trade for which he was known for over fifty years and followed by each of his sons. His most passionate non-work activities included spending quality time with his family, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. He will be remembered for his irresistible smile, his unfailing work ethic and his forever encouraging words of “God Bless You”.

In the past few months, when cancer robbed him of his strength and stamina, it also gave him a softness we treasured. During this time, he taught us patience and allowed us to show him a small measure of the service he had long shown all of us. Doug enjoyed life to the fullest and he dearly loved his family. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him and especially his special friends at Bojangles of Nashville where he spent every morning eating breakfast, visiting, and sharing life stories.

Doug is survived by his loving and dedicated wife of 68 years, Jean James Walston; three sons, Douglas Michael Walston of Sevierville, TN, Mark Timothy Walston and wife Paige, Russell Jeffrey Walston and wife, Dawana, all of Rocky Mount; three daughters, DoVina Walston Lewis and husband, Eddie of Elm City, Michelle Walston Johnson and husband, Danny of Goldsboro, and Amy Walston Heath of Nashville.

He was especially proud of his twelve grandchildren, Michael Luke Walston and wife, Aimee, and Christopher Walston and wife, Shaanna, all of Sevierville, TN; Brooks Walston and wife, Valerie, Blake Walston & wife, Jennifer, Anna-Katherine Walston, Elizabeth Coley and husband, Jason, Abigail Walston, and John Mark Walston, all of Rocky Mount; Kaelin Johnson and fiancé, Jade, and Addison Johnson, all of Goldsboro; and Savannah Heath and Alexa Heath, both of Nashville; and fourteen great-grandchildren. Doug will also be greatly missed by his sisters-in-law, Christine Barnes of Wilson, Paula James of Newport, and Jean Sawyer of Rocky Mount; along with many nieces, nephews, family friends and other extended relatives.