Rev. Dr. Willie R. Ponds, Sr. was called home to be with his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ on June 10, 2007. He was born on June 22, 1932 in Red Bay, Florida to the late Earnest and Idella Ponds. He was the 8th of 13 siblings.      After migrating to Norfolk through the US Army, he joined the Mt. Hermon Baptist Church and served as Choir President, member of the Usher Board, Sunday School Superintendent, Adult Bible Class teacher, Trustee, and on the Deacon board. He was called to pastor the Herbert Baptist Church - Eastern Shore, Va. and he pastured there for 40 years. At the same time, he was called to pastor the Antioch Baptist Church ? Eastern Shore, Va. Upon his death; he was still pasturing Antioch Baptist Church, which he had done for forty-five years.     Rev. Ponds education came from the following institutions of learning: graduated from Rouhlac High School in Chipley, FL; graduated from the Ministerial Department of Norfolk State University, Norfolk, Va.; and he graduated from the Industrial Management Department at Tidewater Community College, Norfolk, Va. He had done further studies with Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Va.; Ohio University of Columbus, OH; and Ohio and Rutgers University, New Jersey.     He was the first of his race to be elected President of the Federal Managers Association at the Naval Supply Center, Norfolk, VA. As president of this organization, he was often sent to Washington, DC to confer with members of Congress and the Senate on key issues. He has been honored for outstanding work in the field of Equal Opportunity as a Counselor. He retired from employment of the Department of Navy in 1987 after thirty-three years including his Army time. He held the position as Chairman of the Board of Directors (the first Black to hold this position) of the Naval Supply Center Federal Credit Union (now PortAlliance).     Rev. Ponds served in the following capacities: President and Life Member of the Virginia/Maryland Baptist Ministers Conference and its Allied Bodies; Community Counselor for the United Way; Tutor for the Norfolk Public School System; Life Member of the N.A.A.C.P.; member of the Norfolk Mayor's Task Force Team; and Life Member of the Women's Baptist Missionary and Educational Association, Eastern Shore, Va.; Vice-President of Campostella Civic League under Rev. T. R. Watson, and was spokesman for the league at City Council and Planning Commission meetings and at budget hearings; President of the Campostella Civic League for seven years; President of the Southside Coalition; and member of the American Legion Post 104. In December 2005, he was elected to the office of President Emeritus of the Campostella Civic League.     Rev. Ponds has done extensive traveling to the Holy Land and its Biblical places. He was honored by the Mayor of Jerusalem and is known as a "Jerusalem Pilgrim." He served God, Country, Eastern Shore and his community with zeal. His motto: "If I can help somebody as I travel along, then my living will not be in vain."     He leaves to mourn his devoted and dedicated wife of 32 years, Mrs. Lillie Pretlow Ponds, four children, Rev. Willie R. Ponds, Jr of Portsmouth, VA; Cathy Ponds-Jaiteh (Madi) of Hollywood, California; Beverly A. Sykes of Norfolk, VA; Regina W. Rivera (George) of Richmond, VA; five grandchildren, Michael J. Ponds, Justin Ponds-Becoat, Nicholas Ponds-Becoat, My?rin J. Ponds, Reginald Wiggins and Roxana Porter; two sisters, Dorothy Davis (Rev. Andrew Davis) and Marthanell Blount of Florida; and three brothers, Wadis and Frankie of Florida, and Johnnie of Louisiana; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and his caregiver, Waverly Edwards, and a special son, Lloyd Tucker and several sons and daughters that he has helped through good and bad times. He was predeceased by five brothers (Earnest, Jr., Waymon, Thaddeus, James, and Lawrence) and three sisters (Edna, Nona, and Bertha).     A wake will be held on Wednesday, June 13, 2007 at St. Thomas A.M.E. Zion Church, 1700 Melon St., Norfolk, (Campostella Section) from 6 pm to 8 pm. There will be a viewing held on Friday from 6pm to 8pm at Rev. Ponds' church, Antioch Baptist Church, Eastern Shore, Va. (Birdsnest, Va.). The funeral service will be held Saturday at 12:00 p.m. at New Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Painter, VA. Burial will be held Monday at 11:00 a.m. at Roosevelt Memorial Park, Chesapeake. Pretlow and Sons Funeral Home, Chesapeake is in charge of arrangements.