New Glasgow - William L. Paris Jr., passed away September 24, 2012 at his home in New Glasgow. William “Billie” Leslie Paris Jr., a member of Second United Baptist Church, was born February 10, 1941, son of the late William “Bill” Sr. and Regina (Borden) Paris. Bill is survived by 1 brother Melvin, Toronto; special nephew Duane (Cora-Louise), New Glasgow; nephews: Les, Damian and Devon, Toronto; Dale, Bermuda; 1 niece Marie, Toronto; great nieces: Sheray, Jaykena, Tamika; many, many loving cousins, friends and ex-coworkers. He was predeceased by both parents: William (Bill) Paris and Regina (Borden) Paris as well as one sister Marva Paris. Bill graduated from New Glasgow High School; graduated as a Lab Technician from the Aberdeen Hospital; graduate of Clinical Laboratory Technology studies in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He went to Montreal to work and secured a position with Ayrst Pharmaceutical where he worked for many years until the company moved to the United States. During that time, the Quebec government wanted to open a Research Centre and he was personally asked to be part of the team of researchers. Bill worked at Boehringer Ingleheim as a Level 11 Pharmaceutical Researcher in Montreal, Quebec. Due to his research, he was asked to do presentations of his findings in the United States. In 1998, he retired and came home to provide care for his ailing father. Upon returning home, Bill decided it was time to give back to his community. He was a past member of the African Nova Scotian Development Association, managed a Pictou County Black Culture project, which involved recording (audio and video) personal narrations from seniors in our Black Community. These records are permanently stored among the county’s genealogy and cultural banks.
In 1999, along with other volunteers he undertook to complete a community identification project resulting in the establishment of a 30-foot ‘pyramid’ structure, Africentric Heritage Park, commemorating the presence of Black Communities in New Glasgow and throughout Northeastern Nova Scotia. With a gala unveiling in 2003, the structure was heralded as ‘unique’ for its symbolic embodiment of culture into architecture. He was a resource person on the Heritage Board for the Town of New Glasgow from where informed understanding of community and greater municipality interaction could be brought to the table. He was very active in his church, interested in the Arts, an avid reader, he had a phenomenal gift of photography; loved figure skating and belonged to a figure skating club in Montreal where he coached and judged figure skating for many years. He was concerned about the betterment of the community and was a wealth of knowledge to all who encountered him. Billy truly loved his family, friends and community; he will be missed and never forgotten. At the request of the deceased, cremation has taken place. A memorial service will convene at Second United Baptist Church, at 2 pm on Friday, September 28, 2012. Officiating will be Pastor Rhonda Britton of Cornwallis Street Baptist Church. Interment of ashes will be at Brookside Cemetery following the memorial service. Donations can be forwarded in the name of the deceased to Second United Baptist Church. Arrangements entrusted to R.H. Porter Funeral Home, New Glasgow. Condolences may be sent by visiting: www.rhporter.ca