William Christopher “Bill” Hight, 81, of Urbanna, a professional collector and unofficial mayor, died Friday, Aug. 9, 2024.
The son of Milton Langston “Bill” Hight and Betty Christian Knott of Henderson, N.C., and Urbanna, Bill was born in Henderson, N.C., and began coming to Urbanna as a child, staying in log cabins overlooking the Rappahannock River owned by his family since the 1920s, where his current residence sits today.
He attended North Carolina State University for a year (to please his mother), before transferring to his beloved University of North Carolina (UNC)-Chapel Hill.
Following his graduation, Bill enlisted in the U.S. Army to serve his country in the Vietnam War.
He returned to Urbanna, married Mary Kay Mercer, the mother of his children, and began his professional life in the auto and marine business. Bill’s record of most miles driven within the town limits will hold for decades and may never be surpassed.
He is survived by his loving daughter, her husband and two beautiful grandchildren; his son, William Christopher Hight III (Kate) of Richmond and Urbanna; granddaughter, Katherine Langston “Kackie” Hight; his sister, Ruth H. Jones of Henderson, N.C.; and girlfriend Cathy Kirby.
Bill loved all things history, spending much of his time learning about his family, The War of Northern Aggression (especially the involvement of his ancestors, Virginia and North Carolina), and wooden work boats. After owning many Chesapeake Bay deadrises, his final boat was the buyboat “55th Virginia,” named after the 55th Regiment, organized and commanded by Dr. William S. “Capt. Billy” Christian, the highest ranking Confederate officer from Middlesex County and Bill’s great-great-grandfather. Bill was an active member of the Masonic Lodge, Sons of Confederate Veterans and Chesapeake Bay Buyboat Association, Corbitt “Trucks” Preservation Society (Henderson, N.C.) and was a founding member of the United States Junk Collectors Association, Urbanna Chapter.
The family will receive friends on Friday, Aug. 16, from 5-7 p.m. at Bristow-Faulkner Funeral Home, Saluda. A funeral service is planned for 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 17, in the Bristow-Faulkner Chapel. Interment following in Hewick Cemetery, Urbanna.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Middlesex Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 71, Urbanna, VA 23175; Middlesex County Volunteer Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 98, Deltaville, VA 23043 and Corbitt Preservation Association, 1760 Parker Lane, Henderson, NC 27536.
