Commander William (Bill) Butler

Commander William M. (Bill) Butler, 58, of Valdosta died suddenly on Thursday, April 10, 2008 at South Georgia Medical Center. Born on February 28, 1950 in Tampa, FL, he was the son of the late Julian and Laura Butler Berry. He was a member of Morningside Baptist.

Bill Butler began his career with the Valdosta Police Department on August 13, 1973. Bill worked in all areas of the police department to include the Patrol Division as a traffic officer, motorcycle officer, corporal, sergeant, and staff sergeant. Bill also worked in the Investigative Division as a Lieutenant and in the Special Services Unit as a Lieutenant and Captain. After the reorganization of the department in 1996, Bill was named Commander of the Support Services Bureau and an Assistant Chief.

During Bill's tenure with the department, he served as a Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Council Instructor, he served on the Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) Advisory Board as President and as a board member, the South Georgia Regional Police Academy Advisory Board, the President and Vice President of the Georgia Terminal Agency Coordinator (TAC) Association for the State of Georgia, a member of the Georgia Association of Chief's of Police (GACP), and as the Valdosta Police Department's primary department TAC. Bill was also a major contributor in the department becoming an internationally accredited and a state certified law enforcement agency.

Bill has also been recognized by the City of Valdosta and Valdosta Police Department for over 34 years of dedicated service and was named Officer of the Year by the Exchange Club in 1987 and 1996. Bill was also named the Regional TAC of the Year by GCIC in 2003.

Bill was also an integral part of working with the community. For over 20 years, Bill provided escort and security for Valdosta City Schools Athletics Programs to include the high school band, football, baseball, and wrestling teams. Bill also was an announcer for wrestling and basketball tournaments, he was a coach for the Pony Baseball League, and he served as an umpire at softball and baseball games.

He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Elizabeth Rigsby Butler of Valdosta; a son and daughter-in-law, M. Chris and Heather Butler; a daughter, Heather E. Butler; two granddaughters, Ella Grace Butler and Emma Butler, all of Valdosta; aunt and uncle, Wilma and Roy Lewis of Lutz, FL; several brothers and sisters; parents-in-law, Randy and Ruth Rigsby of Camilla; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Sue Ellen Warren of Valdosta, Ann and Dana Perkins of Winder, Emily and Glenn Donnelly of Camilla; brothers-in-law, Jim Rigsby of Camilla, Scott Rigsby of Atlanta and Tim Rigsby of Camilla; several nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 13, 2008 at Morningside Baptist Church with Dr. Wayne Robertson officiating. Burial will follow at Sunset Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends Saturday evening from 5-7 p.m. at Carson McLane Funeral Home. Flowers will be accepted as well as donations to the LEAD (Law Enforcement Appreciation Dinner) care of Valdosta Rotary Club, P.O. Box 517, Valdosta, GA 31603. Condolences to the family may be conveyed on the obituary page at www.mclanefuneralservices.com
Carson McLane Funeral Home


Funeral Home:
Carson McLane Funeral Home
2215 North Patterson Street
Valdosta, GA
US 31602