Intelligent, humorous, sentimental, champion of the underdog, fierce love for family and friends
“Will was one of the smartest humans I have known,” his mother, Georgia, stated. He was a dream child and well-liked by his teachers in the gifted programs he was in throughout his schooling. He skipped his senior year of high school and entered the honors program at Auburn University on scholarship. Will graduated from the University of Alabama Law School, passed the bar and become qualified to present cases to the Alabama State Supreme Court. He worked as a law clerk for the Alabama Court of Civic Appeals and for law firms before going into private practice. Will’s focus and passion was on helping marginalized people with their legal needs. During his time in his last recovery program, he established, through the state Bar, a law practice called Progress Law, which employed recovering attorneys.
Will started playing chess in first grade, was a trivia master, and a member of his high school Scholar’s Bowl team. He was a dog lover, especially favoring German Shepherds. He loved reading and writing and once wrote his mom loving letters, “pouring out his heart.” “Those letters mean so much to me now,” Georgia said.
Will was close to his father, Rich, who coached his little league baseball team. Rich died unexpectedly five years before Will from an illness indirectly related to his own substance use. The eight-year age gap between Will and his brother, Ben, made it difficult to always be close while growing up. The two were working on deepening their relationship. “Ben lamented that they were just getting to know each other when Will died,” their mother stated.
Will had a great girlfriend in college, but his addictive behaviors came between them. When he passed, Will was living with Suzanne, a nurse who was smart and supportive. They would have married, had Will lived. Will, and his best friend, Keith, had similar interests throughout their long friendship, including paint ball. It was after a paint ball injury that Will was introduced to painkillers. Keith still posts memories about Will on his social media.
Though Will had a wicked sense of humor and could make anyone laugh, he was sensitive and insecure. “I wish he had learned to love himself better,” Georgia said. His substance use disorder made Will an angry person. Hiding his drug use from those he loved drove him away from family and friends. Once it was revealed, he was more approachable and loving, though his health was deteriorating. Georgia thought Will was “smart enough” to overcome his substance use disorder, and has since learned it is harder to overcome addiction than she previously realized. By the time Will saw some success in his recovery, his health was ruined.
“It takes Herculean efforts and knowledge to fight addiction. I have experienced a real change in my attitude,” Georgia stated. Her empathy level for those going through addiction challenges has skyrocketed, and she reaches out to others who have had a similar loss.
There are no more daily calls from Will, no lopsided smile, or witticisms. Despite his intense efforts, Will will never have the family life he wanted or manage the law practice he helped establish for recovering lawyers. “Twelve years seems like a long time ago, but not if they live in your heart every day,” Georgia stated.
Will’s mother, Georgia Holmes, provided the information for this narrative.
November 4, 1978-August 12, 2012-Age 33
Portrait Artist: Jason Irwin
Narrative Writer: Barbara Francois
