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Obituary for WILLIAM J. WALLACE
Bishop William J. Wallace, 84 of Harwood, went to his new home in Glory on Saturday, September 25, 2021. He was born on Thursday, July 15, 1937, to the late William Benjamin Wallace and Alice Thelma Wallace Tyler. He was nicknamed Joe Louis after the famous boxer. He attended Anne Arundel County Public Schools. At 14 years old, he met Dorine A. Butler Sharps and at 16 years old they married. God blessed them to enjoy 66 years of marriage. This marriage was blessed with 3-1/2 children; Darlene, Kimberly, Tyrone (and granddaughter/daughter Tamasha).
William received Jesus as his personal Savior and received the precious gift of the Holy Ghost at Lighthouse Apostolic Church, Annapolis, Md., under the leadership of Bishop William Gerald. He was very active in the church. He was the church’s bus/van driver, Deacon and Minister. He heard the call to become a Pastor and in October 1976 planted the House of Prayer Pentecostal Church in Pumphrey, Maryland. The community would come to church or sit on their porches as Bishop played his guitar and we sang songs of praise. As he was building his garage at his home, he heard a voice say, “this is your church”. The garage was converted into a church and 45 years later it is still standing on the Word of God. Bishop Wallace spent time helping the less fortunate and needy. It was nothing for him to call Southern Maryland Oil company to fill a neighbor’s tank or take food to them. Bishop continued to praise God in spite of his pain.
William and his wife had a tremendous love for children. They opened their home to children of all ages and nationalities. Once you entered the doors, you were family. He would oftentimes give nicknames to the children, for example: Elyssia - Scootie Pop; Danielle - Shiney Eye, Keyshawn - Peter Rabbit, Shernell - Piece of Bacon, Zavion - the Doctor, Tamasha - Brown Sugar, Darlene have had several, but the latest was Michele Obama.
William had a love for music. In the early sixties he sang with the gospel quartet group, the Drury Stars. He later wrote and sang his own songs. In the nineties he produced the CD, Bishop Wallace & Family. His other hobbies were playing checkers, fishing, hunting, bowling, horseshoes, camping, and cooking. He had a special hand with animals as well. He even befriended a black squirrel and named him Tony. The squirrel would visit him every evening and eat nuts from his hand.
William had a contagious smile and would light up a room. He had a great sense of humor. He was a great provider, a great protector, a great teacher, a great leader, and a great man of God. Our matriarch is gone but will not be forgotten. Preceding him in death: his beloved wife, Evangelist Dorine A. Wallace; parents, William B. Wallace and Alice Thelma Wallace Tyler; sister, Thelma Penny; brothers, Morgan, Arnold, and James Wallace; son, Tyrone J. Wallace, and a great-granddaughter, Elyssia D. Greene.
William is survived by his daughters, Darlene Hudson (Perry) and Kimberly Zamarripa; sister, Arlethia Jones; sisters-in-law Rachel and Luray Wallace; brothers, Stanley (Alberta), Thomas (Virginia), and Michael Lee Wallace, Sr.; special nephew, Marion Penny; 11 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren and a host of loving friends and family.
