William Tolbert was born Sept. 10, 1963 to the late Clarence and Mary Tolbert in Memphis, TN.

William was a 1981 graduate of Hillcrest High School where he excelled in football and basketball.  He attended Alabama State University where he was an all star football player and met his late wife Debra Arterberry Tolbert.

William was a manager at Williams Sonoma for several years.  Before starting his career at Williams Sonoma, he was employed with the NFL in the Seattle Seahawks organization as a middle line backer.  Although he was employed by the Seahawks, William's favorite team is the Dallas Cowboys.

William had a passion to cook and an even stronger passion to go fishing every chance he got.  He loved being out on his boat fishing for hours at a time.  He was a gentle giant because much of the fish he caught, he would clean and give it away.  William had a smile as a big as the sum and he laughed and talked as loud as a lion.

William leaves to cherish his memory two sons, David Arterberry-Tolbert of San Diego, CA and Christian Tolbert of Memphis, TN; grandmother, Easter Bailey of Memphis, TN; two sisters, Vicki Pulliam (Torris) and Cynthia Tolbert-Bell (Edward), both of Memphis, TN; two brothers, Clarence J. Tolbert and Anthony Tolbert (Barbara) of Memphis, TN; two nieces, Chaundra Taylor and Ashley Tolbert-Stewart (Gregory) of Memphis, TN; three nephews, Terrence Pulliam (Bobbie), Shaun Taylor (Toya), and Michael Robinson all of Memphis, TN.  One niece Terlyn Pulliam preceded him in death.

William also leaves a host of great aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

The Service Can Be Streamed Live:

Live Stream for William Tolbert

"Don't think of me as gone away,

My journey's just begun.

Life holds so many facets,

This earth is but one."