William Fleming “Bill” Underwood Jr., 65, died early Thursday, July 22, 2010, while vacationing with his wife in the mountains of northern New Mexico.

Bill was the son of the late W.F. “Pete” and Geraldine Melton Underwood of Blakely. He was born in Atlanta Oct. 29, 1944, spending most of his childhood in Blakely. He enrolled at Georgia Military College, graduating from high school in 1962 and later from junior college in 1964. He then graduated from the University of Georgia in 1967 with a B.A. degree in journalism.

He served as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army Field Artillery from 1967 to 1969. He then matriculated in the night program at John Marshall School of Law in Atlanta where he graduated in 1974. During that time he worked with Dr. Sid Williams to publish Volume #1, Issue #1 of Today’s Chiropractic.

He married Marsha Fricks, his ex-wife and mother of his two children. Bill is the proud and loving father of Charlotte Ashley Underwood and William Fleming “Trey” Underwood, III.

Bill moved to Albany in 1974 where he started his own law firm engaging in the general practice of law 1975 to 1985, before limiting his practice to workers’ compensation and personal injury law. Bill’s son, Trey, joined the practice in 2008.

Bill served as a Dougherty County commissioner 1979-1982, chairman of the State Bar of Georgia’s General Practice and Trial Section from 1982-1983, and vice president for the second district of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association 1978-1980. He was a member of the American Association for Justice and the American Bar Association, served on the Southwest Georgia Regional Airport Commission, and was recently inducted into the distinguished Melvin Belli Society in Vancouver, British Columbia.

In 2000, Bill married his current wife, Jeanie Tupper, and became step-father to three children, Bryan Michael Tupper, Jason Ryan Tupper and Kristina Rene Edwards who provided him with his seven grandchildren, all who adored him.

Bill was an avid pilot with a commercial/ multi-engine instrument rating, having flown his Piper Aerostar across the Atlantic. He had a great sense of humor, a love for reading and a wealth of knowledge of American history and politics, and built a reputation of always helping others in his community.

In addition to his wife and children, Bill is survived by his sister, Laura Underwood Jordan, and his brothers, John Edgar Underwood of Atlanta and David Underwood of Lansing, Mich.

Funeral services were Tuesday, July 27, 2010, at Kimbrell-Stern Funeral Home. Interment followed in Crown Hill Cemetery with the American Legion providing military honors.