William Henry Agnew

William Henry Agnew was born May 2, 1956  to the late John Agnew, Sr. and Lillie D. Rowe. He was the baby of 14 children. He made his transition October 2, 2025 at Pemiscot Memorial Hospital in Hayti, Missouri.

William was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at birth and doctors said he wouldn’t live. They then said he wouldn’t live to be a year old.  Later, doctors started working with him; sending him to see specialists in St. Louis. His Mother even made him a walker to strengthen his legs. He, also, wore braces on his legs to help. Later, he started using crutches. These crutches were used until he entered the nursing home because they were not allowed there. It was after the tornado in Caruthersville on April 2, 2006 that William entered the nursing home. He was the last resident that had lived there the longest.

Some of the things that William enjoyed doing was watching wrestling, Price is Right, Young and the Restless, listening to the Old Ship, playing Bingo, coloring, and eating cookies that his Sister Addie B. would bring him.

William was very smart. He didn’t go to public school, but he did have home schooling under two teachers. He was taught by the late Ms. Ora Carter and the late Ms. Luvenia Clifford while living on the farm with his parents. He could write, spell, do math and more. He could remember your name, birthday, and if you took anything or had done anything to him. He sure was going to tell on you!!!

William woud always ask about his siblings that were no longer with us and went to visit their gravesites. On Memorial Day, he would put flowers on their graves. Occasionally, he would visit his old family home on the farm. When it got close to family members’ birthdays, he would start to bring up their birthdays before they came.

He was preceded in death by his Father, John Agnew, Sr.; his Mother, Lillie D. Agnew; five Brothers: Freddie, John, Jr., Roosevelt, Jackie, and Jimmie Ray; five Sisters: Goldie, Juanita, Mary Francis, Ernestine, and Dorothy Fay.

He is survived by: one Sister, Addie B. Foreman of Caruthersville, MO; two Brothers: Richard Agnew (Jean) and Charles Agnew (Eunice) of Anderson, IN; one Sister-in-law: Leola Agnew of Caruthersville, MO; several nieces, nephews, and cousins that he loved very much.