Minister William Champaign

William Champaign’s testimony of God’s grace and incomprehensible favor begins the day he was born, Tuesday, August 11, 1953. On that day his mother, Bessie Brown, wept continuously because she wasn’t in the position to raise William or give him a good home. She was devastated because she didn’t know what would happen to her son and how his life would turn out without her in it. Little did Bessie know she didn’t need to waste her time crying because the spirit of the Lord was in the room the minute William Champaign was born. God had already gone decades in the future to chart his path. If she had taken a moment and listened to the spirit, she would’ve heard a still small voice say, “William, just as my prophet Jeremiah, before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born, I set you apart” and that day the spirit of the Lord gave William the gift of faith, patience, and selflessness with the heart to help others. In a final act of his perfect love, the Lord anointed William’s voice so that he could praise the name of Jesus and bless others through the power of song. Months later, William’s mother would give him to his fraternal grandmother, Mary Love Champaign who stood in the gap and raised William as if he were her own son. God continued to keep his hands on William keeping him safe throughout his childhood. A good example of that was how he got his nickname. Around the age of 4 or 5, he slipped and fell into a hog pen causing him to sink deep into the mud and frantically struggle to get out. Thank God he was fine the only thing that got hurt that day was his feelings because if you know family, amongst the jokes and the retelling of the story, his name was no longer William, his new name was “Sunk.” (Every time people outside of his family heard him being addressed as Sunk; he would have to explain the story clarifying that it did not mean he was like the character Pigpen in Charlie Brown) In 1973, William graduated from James Island High School and enlisted in the United States Army. Shortly after that, he was stationed at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, and became smitten with a beautiful young woman who worked in the Dining Facility on Post. He wasted no time courting Valiant Diane Champaign and married her on May 8, 1976. During that time, William and his wife rededicated their lives to Christ, and it didn’t matter the base he was stationed on, you could find William in the church choir praising the name of Jesus just like God ordained him to on the day of his birth. God’s favor kept William safe in the military. William would often testify that during his multiple tours in Korea, many soldiers were slain, losing their lives never to return home to the States. However, God kept William safe and covered him through the tensions of North Korea. In 1977, while stationed in Germany, William became a father for the first time and vowed to be the best dad he could be as he wanted to exceed the example of fatherhood he received from his father, William Champaign Jr. Matter of fact he wanted to be such a good dad, that he had not 1, not 2, but 7 children. William L. Champaign, Michael Champaign, Christie Champaign, Quentin Champaign, Malachi Champaign, Tabitha Champaign, and Stephen Champaign. William was also blessed with 3 grandchildren, Aaden Champaign, Genesis Champaign, and Lucas Champaign. William’s last military assignment was at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. He retired from the US Army and remained in Columbia, working as a civilian for the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism. He and his family joined the Fort Jackson Daniel Circle Chapel (DCC) and the music directors quickly recognized William’s gift of song and invited him to join as an inaugural member of the Men’s Choir. The DCC Men’s Choir soon gained notoriety across the Midlands as they were known to uplift the name of Jesus through spirit-filled harmonies of praise and worship. William’s singing for Christ led him to answer the call to preach. He received his ordination to preach the gospel in 2004 and graduated from The International Seminary, receiving a Diploma in Practical Theology in 2005. In 2008, William accepted the invitation to join the ministerial staff at James Island United Congregational Church where he preached and worshiped the Lord until he retired in 2023. William Champaign will forever be known for the love he had for his grandmother, aunts, uncles, cousins, wife, children, grandchildren, church family, and most of all we will remember William for his gift of song that he gave back to God every day until he was called home on July 12, 2024. William is now walking around heaven singing in the heavenly choir all day! “You’ve waited for so long, but you held on, you were strong, and for your faithfulness, it’s your time!” – Song by Luther Barnes & The Sunset Jubilaires In lieu of flowers the family asks that memorials be made to William's favorite youth program, TyJasKey Youth Center. TyJasKey promotes and enhances conditions that result in an improved quality of life for youth and their families, through educational outlets and youth development enrichment activities. Donate Online Here: https://www.midlandsgives.org/index.phpsection=organizations&action=newDonation_org&fwID=388 or Contact 803-269-3628 to mail a donation. You may also use Cash App at $Tyjaskey or Zelle at Kennisdawson.

Minister William Champaign

August 11, 1953 - July 12, 2024