Mr. Willie Fred Pettus, Jr. aka Chilli Willie (Oak Ridge); Buttermilk (USAF); Dan (family); Fred Jr, and Willie entered eternal rest on Friday, June 7, 2024. He was preceded in death by his wife, Carol Pettus, and his mother, Mrs. Lillian Pettus.

A walking Almanac, Fred was born on October 19, 1956, in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. He loved learning and talking about family history, the community history, sports, politics, and his life adventures. Fred loved and cherished the family history of both his father and mother. He would visit everyone, no matter how near or far. Fred never met a stranger. He loved to talk politics and sports hours on end.

Fred received his education in Oak Ridge, TN. He attended Scarboro Elementary, Jefferson Jr. High School, and graduated from Oak Ridge High School. In 1967, Fred became the first African American child to join and play football at the Oak Ridge City Boys. After high school, along with his lifelong friends, Jerome McKinnon, Tony Manley and Glen Freeman, Fred joined the United States Air Force during the Vietnam Era.

Ranked: E-4, Fred served his Country as a Fire Protection Specialist. There he met his special firehouse friends, Bob Boffoli, Ronnie Dedrick, Medina Mungin, John Moran and Gilford Roberts. After his service in the USAF, Fred worked at Martin Marietta Industries (Y-12) as a Fire Inspector (EMT) and was the first African American firefighter at the Oak Ridge Nuclear Power Plants.

In 1991, Fred attended the Schneider Commercial Driver's License School earning a Schneider Trucking (Hazmat Endorsement). In 1995, Fred joined the McJunkin Trucking Company. His love of driving began at the age of 9, driving his grandfather Albert Pettus around town. Fred loved being on the open road behind an 18 wheeler without the guard rails. In 2011, Fred would later found, The Willie P Pilot Car Company. Fred was multi-talented. While managing The Willie P Pilot Car Company, he worked and supported his brother Kim at the Inspiration House. There he was a Direct Care Worker where he worked with residents with many disabilities.

In June of 1982, Vickey Thomas introduced Fred to Dee Dee Green. They dated and Dee Dee would become the mother of his oldest son, Sir David. In 1998, Fred met Carol Richmond. They married in 2001 and adopted their son Kijuan Pettus in 2011. He mourned her death until he succumbed to COPD. Fred amazingly maintained a strong relationship with Dee Dee (Sir's mother) while also having a loving relationship with Carol, his wife. Carol was an amazing stepmother to both Sir and Kijuan. She loved them dearly. Both Sir and Kijjuan loved her deeply and appreciated all that she did for them.

In 1995, Fred moved to Richmond, VA. There he met friends, James Botts, Leon Francis, Reese Morris, Armstead Peace and Kim Richmond. His childhood friends, Anthony Gunn, Cordell Bohanon, Bruce White, Bill Henderson, Kenny Spratlin, Jocelyn Hunter and Trina Harris would all visit. Trina never missed sending Fred a Birthday Card every year.

Fred often welcomed friends into his home as a helping hand. He didn't mind reaching into his pocket to lend money to a friend. He met his close friend Richard Chabotte in 2013, during his work "Piloting Cars" on the Michigan Pipeline with his brother Sandy and sister-in-law (Kim). Richard would later become a roommate with his son Josh and an employee of The Willie P Pilot Car Company. They were roommates until Fred's death.

Fred visited (both his father's and mother's side of the family) throughout the US however near or far. He never met a stranger and was loved by all. He leaves to cherish his memory: two sons, Sir David Pettus (Knoxville, TN) and Kyjuan Pettus (Princeton, WV); two grandsons, Makai Pettus (Richmond, VA) and Kyzah Pettus (Princeton, WV); his father, Mr. Willie Fred Pettus, Sr.; three sisters, Maria Goodman (Bennie), Pamela Pettus Bedford, and Stacy Cotton; two brothers, Sandy Earl Pettus and Kimberly Pettus (Ingrid) (Midlothian, VA); four sisters-in-law, Marian Smith (Washington, DC), Sandra Richmond (Midlothian, VA), Barbara Gibson (Baltimore, MD), and Kim Richmond (Atlanta, GA); three brothers-in-laws, Tony Richmond (deceased), George Richmond (Washington, DC), and Kevin Richmond (Baltimore, MD); two aunts, Mrs. Alice Pettus (Oak Ridge, TN) and Ms. Shirley Anderson (Washington, DC), thirteen nieces, eight nephews, six great-nieces, and three great-nephews; and a host of other relatives and friends.