William "Bill" D. Luke III

William Dozier Luke III, 81, of Hephzibah, Georgia, entered into eternal rest on April 19, 2026 and returned to be with the Lord.

He was known as "Bill", but some of his favorite names were "dad" and "papa." Bill was born in Augusta, Georgia on November 2, 1944 to William Dozier Luke Jr. and Vivian Kneece. He attended the Academy of Richmond County before enlisting in the United States Navy.

Bill served during the Vietnam War as a machinist's mate aboard the USS Halsey Powell, USS Providence, USS Columbus, USS Constellation, USS Oriskany, USS Jason, and USS Midway. As a machinist's mate, he was responsible for maintaining and operating mechanical systems on ships and submarines. He loved traveling the world during his time in the Navy and especially treasured his experiences in San Diego, California and Yokosuka, Japan. He went on to work for Dixie Riverside, Pepsi Cola, and as an engineer for Southern Bell.

Bill was a man of deep faith and a friend to all. He lived his life by the Golden Rule and called on others to do the same. He spent much of his time reading his bible, writing, learning interesting and obscure facts, and watching classic television shows like Gunsmoke and Matlock. In previous years, he enjoyed outdoor home improvement projects and yard work. He was an innovator and tinkerer, and impressed others with his ingenuity. He was frequently complimented on his cane collection, which he personally designed and constructed from PVC pipe. Friends and family will remember him for his cheerful disposition and his quick wit. He will also be remembered for his love of driving his mobility scooter far too fast.

Bill is survived by many loved ones to include his partner in life, Mi Lee, children William Dozier Luke IV, Kim (Simon) Lee, Herman (Tonya) Lee, Benjamin Lee, Me-Me (Sylvester) Rosier, and Bo (Kevin) Jones and numerous grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his father, William Dozier Luke Jr., stepmother Sarah Lou (Lawton) Luke, mother Vivian Kneece, and son Raymond Lee.

A memorial service will be held at 5:00 pm on April 24, 2026 at Thomas L. King Funeral Home at 124 Davis Road in Martinez, Georgia. Viewing will be at 4:00 pm.

Bill’s nurses at the VA were very fond of him and he enjoyed their mutual banter. He deeply appreciated the care they showed him. The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the doctors and nurses at the VA hospital for their care and kindness.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Charlie Norwood Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Curtis Baptist Church in Augusta.